Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery versus open resection of lung metastases from colorectal cancer.

This study aimed to compare the short and long-term survival outcomes between video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and open resection of lung metastases from colorectal cancer. Between January 2006 and January 2013, 57 patients underwent VATS of lung metastases from colorectal cancer. These patients were compared with a consecutive matched group of 57 patients who underwent open resection within the same period. The two groups were similar in terms of age, gender, tumor size, number of tumors, tumor laterality and type of pulmonary resections. The operative time was longer in the VATS group, but the estimated blood loss was less in the VATS group than in the open group. Postoperative 30-day mortality, 30-day complications were similar between the groups. More complications were classified as major in patients underwent open resection, though the difference was not significant (P = 0.297). The 5-year overall survival rate was 50% for VATS and 46% for open resection (P = 0.251). The 5-year overall disease-free survival time was similar in two groups (P = 0.457). The findings suggest that VATS is associated with less blood loss than open resection for lung metastases of colorectal cancer. According to our results, VATS for lung metastases from colorectal cancer is equivalent to open resection in terms of long-term survival outcomes.