Comparative Study of Quality of Life after Lobectomy via Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery and standard posterolateral thoracotomy

Objective To compare the quality of life(QOL) after lobectomy by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS) and standard posterolateral thoracotomy for the patients with lung cancer.Methods 130 patients with lung cancer,were randomly divided into VATS(n=45) and standard posterolateral thoracotomy groups(n=85).Self reported QOL was assessed using a Chinese version of functional assessment of cancer therapy lung(FACT-L) in these patients on day 21 after the operation,guided by an attending physician or nurse.FACT-L scales of physical well-being,emotional well-being,functional well-being,social and family well-being,as well as lung cancer subscales were compared between the two groups.Results VATS was found to have less impact on the patients' reported scores of PW,EW,FW and lung cancer subscales compared with standard posterolateral thoracotomy group.The score of SFW was similar between VATS group and standard posterolateral thoracotomy group.Conclusions Compared with standard posterolateral thoracotomy lobectomy,VATS leads to a better QOL and less functional impacts for patients with NSCLC.