Thoracic day surgery versus thoracic inpatient surgery for treatment of patients with lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: The successful implementation of the Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) concept in thoracic surgery has made it possible to complete the surgery in the day surgery unit. However, it is still unclear whether day surgery for lung cancer patients can achieve the same or even better results. METHODS: A systematic literature search was completed in common databases for studies published before May 2022 and the data analyzed using the Review Manager 5.3 software. RESULTS: We ultimately included 7 retrospective articles that met our criteria for the study. The results of age, smoking status, comorbidity and pulmonary function tests in day surgery group were better than in inpatient surgery group. Minimally invasive surgical method with segmentectomy was more used in day surgery group than in normal surgery group. The 30-day mortality was also lower in Day surgery group and it displayed that early discharged patients had fewer overall complications than the inpatient surgery group. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that younger patients, patients receiving segmental resections by VATS, and those with better pulmonary function tests or without comorbidity can be discharged early with low rates of complications and 30-day mortality, especial with ERAS program.