Video-assisted thoracic surgery versus open thoracotomy for non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis of propensity score-matched patients

Abstract

In view of a paucity of high-level clinical evidence in the form of large, well-designed randomized controlled trials, propensity score matching may provide the highest level of evidence to compare VATS with open thoracotomy for patients with NSCLC. The present meta-analysis demonstrated superior perioperative outcomes for patients who underwent VATS, including overall complication rates and duration of hospitalization.

Comparison of acute phase protein and hemodynamic variables in dogs undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic vs. open pneumonectomy

“…VATS has the advantage of providing an improved visual field and cosmesis. Previous studies have verified that VATS has other advantages, such as a lower concentration of inflammatory cytokines (20), a lower risk of developing chest infection, reduced pain and improved lung function (21,22). An increasing body of evidence has indicated that patients undergoing VATS experience a shorter hospital stay, have their chest tubes removed earlier (23,24) and have an improved prognosis (25).…”

Preoperative Evaluation of Patients Undergoing Lung Resection Surgery: Defining the Role of the Anesthesiologist on a Multidisciplinary Team

“…5,20,[58][59][60][61] The level of cardiac risk that a patient presents also can guide the type of surgery selected and may favor less invasive interventions, such as VATS and RATS, that generally are correlated with lower rates of overall perioperative morbidity in terms of pneumonia and atrial arrhythmia. [64][65][66] Thanks to these advances in surgical care, morbidity and mortality rates after lung resection have decreased significantly over time. The current rates of mortality, as reported by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the European Association of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, are between 1.6% to 2.3% after lobectomy and 3.7% to 6.7% after pneumonectomy.…”

2014 ESC/ESA Guidelines on Non-cardiac Surgery: Cardiovascular Assessment and Management

“…In one study involving propensityscore-matched patients, VATS lobectomy was associated with no significant difference in mortality, but with significantly lower rates of overall perioperative morbidity, pneumonia, and atrial arrhythmia. 34 Recommendations on the selection of surgical approach and its impact on risk …”