Video-assisted thoracic surgery is associated with faster delivery to adjuvant chemotherapy after lung resection in patients with lung cancer

Abstract

Abstract Background Rapid recovery after surgery is especially important for patients who are scheduled for adjuvant therapy. This study aimed to investigate the effect of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) on chemotherapy referral time and chemotherapy tolerance in patients who underwent lung resection for non-small cell lung cancer. Methods The data of 612 patients who underwent lung resection with the diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer in our clinic between January 2014 and December 2021 were reviewed. Patients who underwent lobectomy or bilobectomy with systematic mediastinal lymph node dissection and who received at least one cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy were included in the study. The characteristics of the patients, pathological data, postoperative follow-up findings, and the time between the operation and adjuvant chemotherapy were recorded. Results A total of 144 patients who met the criteria were included in the study. The mean age was 61.6 ± 7.9 years. The mean visual analogue scale scores were found to be lower, and the length of hospital stay was found to be shorter in the VATS group compared to thoracotomy. The mean time (days) to initiate chemotherapy after surgery was statistically shorter in the VATS group (48.9 ± 17.6 vs 58.1 ± 27.6, p = 0.049). However, there weren't seen any statistical differences between VATS and thoracotomy groups in terms of mean cycle completed, percentage of planned regimen received, and grade ≥ 3 toxicity rates (p = 0.16, p = 0.18, and p = 0.22, respectively). Conclusions VATS provides faster recovery compared to open surgery and shortens the time for patients to refer to adjuvant chemotherapy.