We employed wedge resection using stapling device for peripheral, clinical stage I lung carcinoma in selected poor-risk patients. Out of 10 patients, four developed local recurrence and one had the second primary in the same lobe resected. Compared with patients having lobectomy with 91% of a recurrence free rate in three years, those who underwent wedge resection had the lower rate of 53%. We conclude that wedge resection using stapling device cannot be an acceptable procedure even for poor-risk patients.