Aaron M Williams1, Lili Zhao2, Tyler R Grenda3, Ranganath G Kathawate1, Ben E Biesterveld1, Umar F Bhatti1, Philip W Carrott4, Kiran H Lagisetty5, Andrew C Chang5, William Lynch5, Jules Lin5, Rishindra M Reddy6. 1. Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 2. Section of Thoracic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 3. Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 4. University of Virginia, Thoracic Surgery, Charlottesville, Virginia. 5. Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Section of Thoracic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 6. Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Section of Thoracic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Electronic address: reddyrm@med.umich.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) lung lobectomy has emerged as an alternative approach to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Patient-reported outcomes comparing these approaches have been limited. METHODS: At a single, high-volume academic center, patients undergoing VATS and RATS lobectomies for stage I and II non-small cell lung cancer from 2014 to 2018 were evaluated. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life of Cancer Patients Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and Quality of Life Questionnaire in Lung Cancer (QLQ-LC13), along with the Fear of Recurrence (FoR) survey, were administered preoperatively and at 1, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Raw scores underwent linear transformation (0-100 scale). Linear mixed-effects models were used for quality of life and FoR score comparisons. RESULTS: The study included 219 patients (139 VATS and 80 RATS). RATS patients had longer (P < .05) operative times and a higher incidence (P < .05) of postoperative myocardial infarction compared to VATS patients. VATS patients reported higher (P < .05) QLQ-C30 summary scores postoperatively and at 12 months, including higher (P < .05) Social Functioning and Cognitive scores, and less (P < .05) appetite loss. VATS patients reported decreased (P < .05) QLQ-LC13 symptom summary scores at 6 months postoperatively, including decreased (P < .05) dyspnea, neuropathy, and pain compared with RATS patients. VATS patients also reported lower (P < .05) FoR summary scores at 6 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: VATS patients report improvement in select quality of life and FoR measures after lobectomy. Further study comparing these 2 approaches is required.
BACKGROUND: Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) lung lobectomy has emerged as an alternative approach to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Patient-reported outcomes comparing these approaches have been limited. METHODS: At a single, high-volume academic center, patients undergoing VATS and RATS lobectomies for stage I and II non-small cell lung cancer from 2014 to 2018 were evaluated. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life of Cancer Patients Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and Quality of Life Questionnaire in Lung Cancer (QLQ-LC13), along with the Fear of Recurrence (FoR) survey, were administered preoperatively and at 1, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Raw scores underwent linear transformation (0-100 scale). Linear mixed-effects models were used for quality of life and FoR score comparisons. RESULTS: The study included 219 patients (139 VATS and 80 RATS). RATS patients had longer (P < .05) operative times and a higher incidence (P < .05) of postoperative myocardial infarction compared to VATS patients. VATS patients reported higher (P < .05) QLQ-C30 summary scores postoperatively and at 12 months, including higher (P < .05) Social Functioning and Cognitive scores, and less (P < .05) appetite loss. VATS patients reported decreased (P < .05) QLQ-LC13 symptom summary scores at 6 months postoperatively, including decreased (P < .05) dyspnea, neuropathy, and pain compared with RATS patients. VATS patients also reported lower (P < .05) FoR summary scores at 6 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: VATS patients report improvement in select quality of life and FoR measures after lobectomy. Further study comparing these 2 approaches is required.