Analysis of conversion to thoracotomy during thoracoscopic lung resection

Background Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery has been widely adopted. However, conversion to open thoracotomy is still necessary when intraoperative complications are encountered. Methods Between 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. Results The 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 that advanced clinical stage was the only significant predictor of intraoperative conversion. Compared to the video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery group, mortality and morbidity in the conversion group were significantly higher, but there was no significant difference in mortality or morbidity between the conversion and scheduled thoracotomy groups. The conversion group showed a significantly higher rate of lethal acute exacerbation of interstitial pneumonitis than the video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery group. Conclusion The main reason for conversion was angioplasty, and advanced clinical stage was a significant predictor of intraoperative conversion. Conversion was safely performed but postoperative complications, although similar in frequency to scheduled thoracotomy cases, were more frequent than those in thoracoscopic surgery cases.