Single utility port or single port complete video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for pulmonary lobectomy

Abstract

Objective To explore clinical application of single utility port or single port video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy. Methods Conducting a prospective study to 191 patients with lung disease who underwent complete video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy in Department of Thoracic Surgery of The People's Hospital of Wuhan University from June 2013 to Dec 2014. Results Of the 191 patients, 35 underwent left upper lobectomy, 42 underwent left lower lobectomy, 43 underwent right upper lobectomy, 11 underwent right middle lobectomy, 47 underwent right lower lobectomy, and 13 underwent bilobectomy. Operations were successful in all patients with 3 patients transferred for open thoracotomy for severe adhesion or bleeding. A total of 7 of 78 upper lobectomy and 8 of 113 middle or lower lobectomy was done with adding another incision for severe adhesion. The mean operative time was 50~190 (80.3±43.2)min. The mean blood losing was 90~350(145.4±56.2)ml. Thirty nine patients underwent upper lobectomy, who were placed two chest tubes, respectively. The upper chest drainage duration was(1.5±0.8)d, and the lower chest drainage duration was(4.2±1.3)d. Forty eight patients underwent lower lobectomy, middle lobectomy, or bilobectomy, who were placed one chest tube, respectively. The chest drainage duration was(4.0±1.7)d. The mean recovery time after operation was (6.1±2.5) d. Seventy six patients were diagnosed with lung cancer, and the average number of dissected lymph nodes from each patient was (14.7±6.9). The lung cancer was classified as tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage ⅠA, ⅠB, ⅡA, ⅡB and ⅢA in 67, 61, 34, 22 and 7 cases, respectively. No serious complications, such as bronchopleural fistula or death, occurred in perioperation. Conclusions In consideration of placing two chest tubes after upper lobectomy and placing one chest tube after lower lobectomy, middle lobectomy, or middle and lower lobectomy, we think single utility port-VATS (2-port) for upper lobectomy and single port-VATS lobectomy for lower lobectomy, middle lobectomy, or middle and lower lobectomy are technically safe and have the advantages of drainage, lessening pain, rapid postoperative recovery, and have no significant difference in operation time, the incidence of complications and the number of removed lymph nodes, compared to traditional 3-port-VATS. Key words: Thoracoscopy/MT; Pneumonectomy