Objective: To determine the effect of video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy on the pulmonary rehabilitation of patients with lung cancers.
Methods: Between September 2010 and December 2011, 138 patients. with lung cancers were treated with lobectomy: 68 using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and 70 using thoracotomy. The preoperative and postoperative (7 d and 30 d) pulmonary functions and Cardio-pulmonary Exercise Capacities as well as postoperative (7 d and 30 d) DE Morton Index of the two groups of patients were assessed. The two groups of patients had similar in clinical characteristics.
Results: (1) Patients in the VATS group had greater FEV1 (1.64 +/- 0.21) L and PEF [(310.58 +/- 30.13) L/min] on the 7 d after operations than those with thoracotomy [FEV1 (1.34 +/- 0.11) L and PEF (270.18 +/- 25.67) L/min], P < 0.05. (2) Patients in the VATS group had lower fatigue index (0.27 +/- 0.08) and dyspnea index (0.28 +/- 0.17) on the 7 d after operations than those with thoracotomy (0.44 +/- 0.10 fatigue index and 0.39 +/- 0.09 dyspnea index), P < 0.05. (3) Patients in the VATS group had longer 6-min walking distance on the 7 d [(490.57 +/- 118.33) m] and 30 d [(524.32 +/- 140.87) m] after operations than those with thoracotomy [(395.07 +/- 100.19) m at 7 d and (471.10 +/- 118.57) m at 30 d], P < 0.05. (4) Patients in the VATS group had higher DE Morton index (74.58 +/- 16.23) on the 7 d after operations than those with thoracotomy (55.87 +/- 14.79), P < 0.05.
Conclusion: VATS lobectomy for curative lung cancer resection appears to provide a superior functional health recovery compared with thoracotomy.