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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
Thoracoscopic Extended Right Middle Plus Lower Sleeve Lobectomy for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Published on: February 27, 2026
First decade's experience with thoracoscopic lobectomy in infants and children
1The Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, Denver, CO 80111, USA. steverberg@aol.com
Insights
Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy is a safe and effective procedure for infants and children, offering reduced recovery times and hospital stays compared to traditional open surgery.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Thoracic Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Procedures
Background:
- Thoracoscopic lobectomy is an alternative to open thoracotomy for pediatric lung resections.
- Evaluating minimally invasive approaches is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the safety and efficacy of thoracoscopic lobectomy in pediatric patients.
- To compare outcomes with traditional open thoracotomy.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of 97 pediatric patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic lobe resection between 1995 and 2007.
- Patient age ranged from 2 days to 18 years.
- Diagnoses included congenital lung abnormalities and malignancy.
Main Results:
- 93% of procedures were completed thoracoscopically with a low complication rate (3.1%).
- Average operative time was 115 minutes.
- Average hospital stay was 2.4 days, with chest tubes in for an average of 2.1 days.
Conclusions:
- Thoracoscopic lung resection is a safe and effective technique in pediatric patients.
- This minimally invasive approach reduces the morbidity associated with open thoracotomy.
- Shorter recovery times and hospital stays are associated with thoracoscopic procedures.
Purpose:
This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of thoracoscopic lobectomy in infants and children.
Methods:
From January 1995 to March 2007, 97 patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic lobe resection. Ages ranged from 2 days to 18 years and weights from 2.8 to 78 kg. Preoperative diagnosis included sequestration/congenital adenomatoid malformation (65), severe bronchiectasis (21), congenital lobar emphysema (9), and malignancy (2).
Results:
Of 97 procedures, 93 were completed thoracoscopically. Operative times ranged from 35 minutes to 210 minutes (average, 115 minutes). There were 19 upper, 11 middle, and 67 lower lobe resections. There were 3 intraoperative complications (3.1%) requiring conversion to an open thoracotomy. Chest tubes were left in 88 of 97 procedures for 1 to 3 days (average, 2.1 days). Hospital stay ranged from 1 to 12 days (average, 2.4 days).
Conclusions:
Thoracoscopic lung resection is a safe and efficacious technique. It avoids the inherent morbidity of a major thoracotomy incision and is associated with the same decrease in postoperative pain, recovery, and hospital stay as seen in minimally invasive procedures.
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