The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A total of 90 patients with COPD from 2002 to 2012 were enrolled into our study, comprising 22 who underwent conventional thoracotomies and 68 VATS. Pulmonary function testings, arterial blood gases analysis, and quality of life between these two groups were compared. VATS was found to be superior to the conventional thoracotomy in terms of length of hospital stay, intraoperative blood loss, intubation time, volume of chest tube drainage, and postoperative pain assessment (P < 0.05). However, significant differences in pulmonary function testings, arterial blood gases analysis, 6-min walking distance (6-MWD), and postoperative quality of life between the two groups were not found (P > 0.05). LVRS by VATS is a safe and reliable surgical approach for the treatment of COPD, with less invasiveness and shorter hospital recovery time.
Keywords: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Lung volume reduction surgery; Thoracotomy; Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.