Analysis of conversion to thoracotomy during thoracoscopic lung resection

BackgroundVideo-assisted thoracoscopic surgery has been widely adopted. However, conversion to open thoracotomy is still necessary when intraoperative complications are encountered.MethodsBetween January 2009 and December 2014, 1566 patients underwent anatomical lung resection for lung cancer using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery at our institution. Among these patients, 39 required conversion to open thoracotomy. We retrospectively examined the current status of conversion to thoracotomy during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in a single city hospital. Data were compared with those of 89 patients undergoing a scheduled thoracotomy.ResultsThe main reason for conversion was the need for angioplasty for pulmonary artery invasion by silicotic lymph nodes (12 cases), and metastatic lymph nodes or tumors (9 cases). Univariate analysis demonstrated that the risk factors for conversion were male sex, smoking habit, induction therapy, large tumor size, and advanced stage. Multivariate analysis showed th...