Long-term outcomes of thoracoscopic lobectomy

Thoracoscopic lobectomy is emerging as the procedure of choice for patients with early stage non-small cell lung cancer, based on advantages in quality of life as well as long-term outcomes. In addition, thoracoscopic lobectomy has been demonstrated to be safe and effective for selected patients with locally advanced disease and for those after induction therapy. Concerns relating to oncologic efficacy, as measured by complete resection rate, ability to perform complete mediastinal lymph node dissection, or cancer-specific survival, have not been supported by evidence in the literature. In addition there is increasing evidence that thoracoscopic lobectomy may actually have superior outcomes, based on advantages in morbidity and mortality after resection and in the delivery of adjuvant chemotherapy.