Authors' recommendations: The evidence for effectiveness of minimal access lobectomy for patients with lung cancer is limited. However, the available evidence does suggest that VATS procedures appear to be associated with lower morbidity, less pain and greater lung function after surgery, less blood loss, shorter hospital stay, higher quality of life, and higher survival rates than conventional open thoracotomy, for patients with early stage lung cancer. A major limitation of our report is that patients’ characteristics were not well matched in comparison groups: in most of the included non-RCTs, more patients in VATS group had less invasive disease and better prognosis. To eliminate this patient bias in studies, it would be preferable to conduct an RCT comparing prognosis between VATS lobectomy versus open lobectomy; however, this may not be feasible or ethical in certain cases. In a consensus statement developed by professionals from multiple countries, VATS was recommended in patients with clinical stage I and II NSCLC, to reduce overall postoperative complications, to reduce pain and overall functionality over the short term, and to improve delivery of adjuvant chemotherapy. In the clinical practice, the choice of surgical technique should be left to the discretion of surgeons and patients.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.cadth.ca/media/pdf/htis/L0064%20Minimal%20Access%20Lobectomy%20for%20Lung%20Cancer%20Patients%20final.pdf

Year Published: 2009

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Canada

Organisation Name: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health

Contact Address: 600-865 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 5S8 Canada. Tel: +1 613 226 2553; Fax: +1 613 226 5392;

Contact Name: requests@cadth.ca

Contact Email: requests@cadth.ca

Copyright: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH)