Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for right middle lobectomy in children
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Updated: Oct 13, 2026
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Published on: April 19, 2024
A Gomola1, O Gall, M Larroquet
1Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Hôpital d'enfants Armand Trousseau, Paris, France.
Insights
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for pediatric right middle lobectomy showed no significant benefits or drawbacks compared to traditional thoracotomy. Operating times were longer with VATS, but patient outcomes were similar between the two surgical approaches.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Thoracic Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
Background:
- Right middle lobectomy is a surgical procedure performed for various pediatric thoracic conditions.
- Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) offers a minimally invasive alternative to traditional thoracotomy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the outcomes of VATS right middle lobectomy with muscle-sparing thoracotomy in children.
- To evaluate the potential advantages and disadvantages of VATS in this pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective case-control study comparing 10 children who underwent VATS right middle lobectomy with 10 age-matched controls who had thoracotomy.
- Both groups were operated on by the same surgeon during the same period.
Main Results:
- VATS procedures had a significantly longer operating time (146 +/- 28 min) compared to thoracotomy (100 +/- 27 min).
- Minimum oxygen saturation was higher in the VATS group, but oxygen requirements and postoperative respiratory complications (e.g., atelectasis) were similar.
- Postoperative analgesic requirements did not differ between the two groups.
Conclusions:
- This study found no significant benefit or disadvantage of VATS over standard thoracotomy for pediatric right middle lobectomy.
- Further research may be needed to fully elucidate the role of VATS in pediatric thoracic surgery.
Abstract:
This case-control study was designed to evaluate the potential advantages and disadvantages of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for right middle lobectomy in children. Ten children (6.1 +/- 3.0 yr, mean +/- SD) who underwent right middle lobectomy under videoscopy were compared with 10 controls matched for age (6.8 +/- 3.5 yr) and operated by thoracotomy (muscle-sparing technique) during the same period by the same surgeon. Operating time was significantly longer in the videoscopy group than in the thoracotomy group (146 +/- 28 mn vs 100 +/- 27 mn, P < 0.001). Minimum oxygen saturation values were significantly higher in the videoscopy group whereas oxygen requirements did not differ between groups. Incidence of postoperative respiratory complications (mainly atelectasis) was similar in the two groups. No difference in postoperative analgesic requirements in the postoperative period was demonstrated. No real benefit or disadvantage of videoscopy over standard thoracotomy could be observed in this retrospective case-control study.
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