Elliot L Servais1, Daniel L Miller2, Dylan Thibault3, Matthew G Hartwig3, Andrzej S Kosinski3, Cameron T Stock4, Theolyn Price5, Syed M Quadri4, Richard S D'Agostino4, William R Burfeind6. 1. Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington, Massachusetts; Department of Surgery, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: elliot.servais@lahey.org. 2. Section of Thoracic Surgery, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Medical College of Georgia/Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia. 3. Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. 4. Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington, Massachusetts; Department of Surgery, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts. 5. General Thoracic Surgery, WellStar Health System/Mayo Clinic Care Network, Marietta, Georgia. 6. Department of Surgery, St Luke's University Health Network, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Conversion to thoracotomy during minimally invasive lobectomy for lung cancer is occasionally necessary. Differences between video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) lobectomy conversion have not been described. METHODS: We queried The Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery Database from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2018. Patients with prior thoracic operations and metastatic disease were excluded. Univariable comparisons with χ2 and Kruskal-Wallis tests and multivariable logistic regression modeling were performed. RESULTS: There were 27,695 minimally invasive lobectomies from 269 centers. Conversion to thoracotomy occurred in 11.0% of VATS and 6.0% of RATS (P < .001). Conversion was associated with increased mortality (P < .001), major complications (P < .001), and intraoperative (P < .001) and postoperative (P < .001) blood transfusions. Conversion from RATS occurred emergently (P < .001) and for vascular injury (P < .001) more frequently than from VATS, but there was no difference in overall major complications or mortality. Mortality after conversion was 3.1% for RATS and 2.2% for VATS (P = .24). Clinical cancer stage II or III (P < .001), preoperative chemotherapy (P = .003), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (P = .006), body mass index (P < .001), and left-sided resection (P = .0002) independently predicted VATS conversion. For RATS clinical stage III (P = .037), left-sided resection (P = .041), and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (P = .002) predicted conversion. Lower volume centers had increased rates of conversion (P < .001) in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Conversion from minimally invasive to open lobectomy is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Conversion occurs more frequently during VATS compared with RATS, albeit less often emergently, and with similar rates of overall mortality and major complications. Predictors, urgency, and reasons for conversion differ between RATS and VATS lobectomy and may assist in patient selection.
BACKGROUND: Conversion to thoracotomy during minimally invasive lobectomy for lung cancer is occasionally necessary. Differences between video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) lobectomy conversion have not been described. METHODS: We queried The Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery Database from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2018. Patients with prior thoracic operations and metastatic disease were excluded. Univariable comparisons with χ2 and Kruskal-Wallis tests and multivariable logistic regression modeling were performed. RESULTS: There were 27,695 minimally invasive lobectomies from 269 centers. Conversion to thoracotomy occurred in 11.0% of VATS and 6.0% of RATS (P < .001). Conversion was associated with increased mortality (P < .001), major complications (P < .001), and intraoperative (P < .001) and postoperative (P < .001) blood transfusions. Conversion from RATS occurred emergently (P < .001) and for vascular injury (P < .001) more frequently than from VATS, but there was no difference in overall major complications or mortality. Mortality after conversion was 3.1% for RATS and 2.2% for VATS (P = .24). Clinical cancer stage II or III (P < .001), preoperative chemotherapy (P = .003), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (P = .006), body mass index (P < .001), and left-sided resection (P = .0002) independently predicted VATS conversion. For RATS clinical stage III (P = .037), left-sided resection (P = .041), and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (P = .002) predicted conversion. Lower volume centers had increased rates of conversion (P < .001) in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Conversion from minimally invasive to open lobectomy is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Conversion occurs more frequently during VATS compared with RATS, albeit less often emergently, and with similar rates of overall mortality and major complications. Predictors, urgency, and reasons for conversion differ between RATS and VATS lobectomy and may assist in patient selection.
Authors: Alfonso Fiorelli; Stefano Forte; Mario Santini; René Horsleben Petersen; Wentao Fang Journal: Thorac Cancer Date: 2022-07-04 Impact factor: 3.223