Background: Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) lobectomy is now considered the preferred approach at many centers for early stage lung cancer. However, it needs an adequate learning curve, and it may be challenging in non-expert hands. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Transcollation Technology over Traditional Electrocautery to perform hilar and mediastinal dissection during VATS lobectomy.
Methods: This is a single-center retrospective study including consecutive patients undergoing VATS lobectomy for lung cancer. Patients were divided in two groups based on whether Transcollation Technology (TT Group) or Traditional Electrocautery (TE Group) was used for hilar and mediastinal lymphadenectomy. Operative time and surgical outcome, including number of transfusions, length of chest drainage, length of hospital stay, morbidity and mortality were registered, and the inter-group differences were statistically analyzed.
Results: 53 patients were included in the final analysis. The TT Group (n = 24) compared to the TE Group (n = 29) showed significant shorter operative time (75.2 ± 25.8 min versus 98.1 ± 33.3 min; p = 0.023), and reduction of length of chest tube stay (4.7 ± 0.8 days vs. 6.8 ± 1.1 days, p = 0.013) and length of hospital stay (5.3 ± 1.9 days vs. 6.8 ± 1.1 days, p = 0.007). No intraoperative or major postoperative complications were observed in either groups.
Conclusions: Transcollation Technology represents a valid alternative to standard electrocautery instruments during VATS lobectomy. It contributes to reduce the operative time and length of hospital stay. Further larger prospective studies are required to confirm our data.
Keywords: Bipolar sealer; Blood loss reduction; Hilar dissection; Transcollation technology; VATS lobectomy.