The experience of video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomies

Kasper Steen; Morten Bendixen; Thomas Decker Christensen

doi:10.61409/A09240649

The experience of video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomies

Department of Clinical Medicine - Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy is increasingly replacing open thoracotomy as the standard surgical treatment for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer owing to its greater efficacy, as demonstrated in RCTs. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness and evolution of lung cancer treatment by VATS lobectomy in a single centre. METHODS. This retrospective single-centre cohort study at the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, examined operative reports for all VATS lobectomies performed in-house from 3 March 2008 to 6 July 2023, as well as medical records at one-year follow-up for 10% of the patients. RESULTS. VATS lobectomies were identified (N = 1,705). A steady annual increase in performed procedures and the number of performing surgeons was observed, and more frail patients underwent the procedure. Operation time, mean chest tube drainage time, length of hospitalisation and rate of annual conversions declined along with the amount and severity of postoperative complications, cancer recurrence and mortality at the one-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS. Treatment effectiveness, measured by peri-and post-operative outcomes, aligned with the efficiency presented in RCTs, with significant benefits of VATS compared to traditional anterolateral thoracotomy. Furthermore, treatment effectiveness evolved during the study period, and the introduction and training of new surgeons improved, enhancing the quality and availability of VATS throughout the period.

Original language	English
Article number	A09240649
Journal	Danish Medical Journal
Volume	72
Issue	4
Pages (from-to)	1-10
Number of pages	10
ISSN	2245-1919
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.61409/A09240649
Publication status	Published - 10 Mar 2025

Keywords

Humans
Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted/statistics & numerical data
Lung Neoplasms/surgery
Retrospective Studies
Male
Female
Pneumonectomy/methods
Aged
Middle Aged
Denmark
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/surgery
Treatment Outcome
Operative Time
Length of Stay/statistics & numerical data
Postoperative Complications/epidemiology
Aged, 80 and over
Thoracotomy
Adult

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title = "The experience of video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomies",

abstract = "INTRODUCTION. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy is increasingly replacing open thoracotomy as the standard surgical treatment for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer owing to its greater efficacy, as demonstrated in RCTs. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness and evolution of lung cancer treatment by VATS lobectomy in a single centre. METHODS. This retrospective single-centre cohort study at the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, examined operative reports for all VATS lobectomies performed in-house from 3 March 2008 to 6 July 2023, as well as medical records at one-year follow-up for 10\% of the patients. RESULTS. VATS lobectomies were identified (N = 1,705). A steady annual increase in performed procedures and the number of performing surgeons was observed, and more frail patients underwent the procedure. Operation time, mean chest tube drainage time, length of hospitalisation and rate of annual conversions declined along with the amount and severity of postoperative complications, cancer recurrence and mortality at the one-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS. Treatment effectiveness, measured by peri-and post-operative outcomes, aligned with the efficiency presented in RCTs, with significant benefits of VATS compared to traditional anterolateral thoracotomy. Furthermore, treatment effectiveness evolved during the study period, and the introduction and training of new surgeons improved, enhancing the quality and availability of VATS throughout the period.",

keywords = "Humans, Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted/statistics \& numerical data, Lung Neoplasms/surgery, Retrospective Studies, Male, Female, Pneumonectomy/methods, Aged, Middle Aged, Denmark, Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/surgery, Treatment Outcome, Operative Time, Length of Stay/statistics \& numerical data, Postoperative Complications/epidemiology, Aged, 80 and over, Thoracotomy, Adult",

author = "Kasper Steen and Morten Bendixen and Christensen, \{Thomas Decker\}",

note = "Published under Open Access CC-BY-NC-BD 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.",

year = "2025",

month = mar,

day = "10",

doi = "10.61409/A09240649",

language = "English",

volume = "72",

pages = "1--10",

journal = "Danish Medical Journal",

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T1 - The experience of video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomies

AU - Steen, Kasper

AU - Bendixen, Morten

AU - Christensen, Thomas Decker

N1 - Published under Open Access CC-BY-NC-BD 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.

PY - 2025/3/10

Y1 - 2025/3/10

N2 - INTRODUCTION. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy is increasingly replacing open thoracotomy as the standard surgical treatment for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer owing to its greater efficacy, as demonstrated in RCTs. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness and evolution of lung cancer treatment by VATS lobectomy in a single centre. METHODS. This retrospective single-centre cohort study at the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, examined operative reports for all VATS lobectomies performed in-house from 3 March 2008 to 6 July 2023, as well as medical records at one-year follow-up for 10% of the patients. RESULTS. VATS lobectomies were identified (N = 1,705). A steady annual increase in performed procedures and the number of performing surgeons was observed, and more frail patients underwent the procedure. Operation time, mean chest tube drainage time, length of hospitalisation and rate of annual conversions declined along with the amount and severity of postoperative complications, cancer recurrence and mortality at the one-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS. Treatment effectiveness, measured by peri-and post-operative outcomes, aligned with the efficiency presented in RCTs, with significant benefits of VATS compared to traditional anterolateral thoracotomy. Furthermore, treatment effectiveness evolved during the study period, and the introduction and training of new surgeons improved, enhancing the quality and availability of VATS throughout the period.

AB - INTRODUCTION. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy is increasingly replacing open thoracotomy as the standard surgical treatment for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer owing to its greater efficacy, as demonstrated in RCTs. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness and evolution of lung cancer treatment by VATS lobectomy in a single centre. METHODS. This retrospective single-centre cohort study at the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, examined operative reports for all VATS lobectomies performed in-house from 3 March 2008 to 6 July 2023, as well as medical records at one-year follow-up for 10% of the patients. RESULTS. VATS lobectomies were identified (N = 1,705). A steady annual increase in performed procedures and the number of performing surgeons was observed, and more frail patients underwent the procedure. Operation time, mean chest tube drainage time, length of hospitalisation and rate of annual conversions declined along with the amount and severity of postoperative complications, cancer recurrence and mortality at the one-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS. Treatment effectiveness, measured by peri-and post-operative outcomes, aligned with the efficiency presented in RCTs, with significant benefits of VATS compared to traditional anterolateral thoracotomy. Furthermore, treatment effectiveness evolved during the study period, and the introduction and training of new surgeons improved, enhancing the quality and availability of VATS throughout the period.

KW - Humans

KW - Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted/statistics & numerical data

KW - Lung Neoplasms/surgery

KW - Retrospective Studies

KW - Male

KW - Female

KW - Pneumonectomy/methods

KW - Aged

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Denmark

KW - Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/surgery

KW - Treatment Outcome

KW - Operative Time

KW - Length of Stay/statistics & numerical data

KW - Postoperative Complications/epidemiology

KW - Aged, 80 and over

KW - Thoracotomy

KW - Adult

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105004324390

U2 - 10.61409/A09240649

DO - 10.61409/A09240649

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 40302705

SN - 2245-1919

VL - 72

SP - 1

EP - 10

JO - Danish Medical Journal

JF - Danish Medical Journal

IS - 4

M1 - A09240649

ER -

The experience of video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomies

Abstract

Keywords

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