Thoracoscopic segmentectomy for small-sized peripheral lung cancer

Background: Lung segmentectomy is a therapeutic option in containing pathological diagnosis and radical cure for small-sized peripheral lung cancer. We retrospectively investigated the results of thoracoscopic segmentectomy (TS-S). Methods: From April 2008 to December 2016, 191 patients who underwent TS-S for small-sized peripheral lung cancer were reviewed retrospectively. Intentional indication of TS-S is peripheral radiologically noninvasive lung cancer whose tumor size is less than 2 cm in size with consolidation to tumor (C/T) ratio less than 0.5. Compromised indication is radiologically invasive lung cancer (C/T ration more than 0.5) which we can keep sufficient surgical margin. Results: We performed TS-S in 191 patients (81 males and 110 females, median age 66 years). The mean diameter of the nodules was 15 mm (range, 6-46 mm), and clinical IA/IB was 184/7, respectively. Intentional indication was 145 (76%) and compromised one was 46 (24%). The mean operation time was 169 min (range, 73-319 min) and the mean blood loss was 42 g (range, 0-2,900 g). One procedure was converted to open thoracotomy due to bleeding of pulmonary artery (conversion rate, 0.5%). The median chest drainage duration was 1 day (range, 1-9 days), and the median postoperative hospital stay was 7 days (range, 3-30 days). Postoperative complications occurred in 19 patients (10%), including air leak lasting more than 7 days in 3 patients, and late phase air leak in 1 patient. There was no 30-day mortality. Median follow-up was 52 months. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates and relapse free survival rates, including deaths from all causes, were 93.4% and 90.8%, respectively. During this period, there were 4 distal recurrences after TS-S. However, there was no local recurrence. Conclusions: Our result of TS-S was an acceptable. Appropriate selection of patient and surgical procedure in TS-S is important issue.