Uniportal VATS lobectomy versus thoracotomy lobectomy for NSCLC larger than 5 cm: A propensity score‐matched study

BACKGROUND: The performance of uniportal VATS lobectomy (uVATS) for non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) larger than 5 cm is uncertain due to a lack of evidence. Here, we present a retrospective, propensity‐score matched cohort study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of uVATS for patients with locally advanced NSCLC. METHODS: The data of patients with NSCLC larger than 5 cm diameter who underwent curative resection via uVATS or thoracotomy lobectomy between January 2015 and December 2020 was collected. Propensity‐score matching was utilized to control the observable biases. RESULTS: Seventy‐two patients underwent uVATS lobectomy, while 38 received thoracotomy lobectomy. No conversion to open surgery or perioperative death occurred. uVATS lobectomy achieved similar total lymph node dissection counts compared to thoracotomy and even yielded a higher amount of lymph node dissection in pTNM stage II patients. The long‐term overall and recurrence‐free survival rates were also similar between the two groups. Results from the propensity‐score matching generated cohort agreed with those from the full cohort. CONCLUSIONS: uVATS lobectomy is feasible and effective for curative lobectomy for NSCLC larger than 5 cm in diameter in selected patients. Further validations from well‐designed prospective studies are required for uVATS lobectomy for patients with locally advanced NSCLC.