Comparative intention-to-treat analysis of the video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery approach to pulmonary segmentectomy for lung carcinoma

Objectives To compare the video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) with the open thoracotomy access to pulmonary segmentectomy by the clinical outcomes and long-term survival in lung carcinoma. Methods Non-randomized comparative intention-to-treat study of prospective institutional registry data and survival data of 100 consecutive patients undergoing segmentectomy. Results Within one decade (2002-12), 100 patients with proven or highly suspected lung carcinoma underwent 100 anatomical sub-lobar pulmonary resections (52 typical and 20 atypical segmentectomies, 28 split-lobe procedures). Fifty-six patients were operated by VATS and 44 by thoracotomy access. Comparison of demographic, medi…