A National Analysis of Short-term Outcomes and Long-term Survival Following Thoracoscopic Versus Open Lobectomy for Clinical Stage II Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

In this national analysis, VATS lobectomy was used in the minority of N1 NSCLC cases but was associated with shorter hospitalization and similar nodal upstaging rates, 30-day mortality, and long-term survival when compared to open lobectomy. These findings suggest thoracoscopic techniques are feasible for the treatment of stage II (cN1) NSCLC.