Thoracoscopic Lobectomy versus Segmentectomy in the Treatment of Patients with Early-Stage Lung Cancer

To assess the clinical efficacy of thoracoscopic lobectomy and segmentectomy in the treatment of patients with early-stage lung cancer.

A total of 70 patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer who were treated in our hospital from April 2018 to May 2020 were recruited and assigned at a ratio of 1 : 1 to receive either segmentectomy (observation group) or lobectomy (control group). Outcome measures included clinical efficacy, surgery-related indicators, pulmonary function indicators (forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)), postoperative complications, and recurrence and metastasis.

There was no significant difference in the clinical efficacy between the two groups (P > 0.05). Segmentectomy was associated with a longer operation time and shorter hospital stay compared to lobectomy (P < 0.05). There was no statistical significance in the amount of intraoperative blood loss and the number of lymph nodes dissected (P > 0.05). Segmentectomy resulted in significantly higher FVC and FEV1 levels in patients compared to lobectomy (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups (P > 0.05). The two groups of patients were followed up for 12 months after the operation, and there was no recurrence or metastasis in either group.

The two surgical methods have similar efficacy and safety profiles, but for the treatment of patients with early-stage lung cancer, thoracoscopic segmentectomy is associated with a shorter hospital stay and better protection of the lung function of patients compared to lobectomy.