First decade's experience with thoracoscopic lobectomy in infants and children

Abstract

Purpose: This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of thoracoscopic lobectomy in infants and children.

Methods: From January 1995 to March 2007, 97 patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic lobe resection. Ages ranged from 2 days to 18 years and weights from 2.8 to 78 kg. Preoperative diagnosis included sequestration/congenital adenomatoid malformation (65), severe bronchiectasis (21), congenital lobar emphysema (9), and malignancy (2).

Results: Of 97 procedures, 93 were completed thoracoscopically. Operative times ranged from 35 minutes to 210 minutes (average, 115 minutes). There were 19 upper, 11 middle, and 67 lower lobe resections. There were 3 intraoperative complications (3.1%) requiring conversion to an open thoracotomy. Chest tubes were left in 88 of 97 procedures for 1 to 3 days (average, 2.1 days). Hospital stay ranged from 1 to 12 days (average, 2.4 days).

Conclusions: Thoracoscopic lung resection is a safe and efficacious technique. It avoids the inherent morbidity of a major thoracotomy incision and is associated with the same decrease in postoperative pain, recovery, and hospital stay as seen in minimally invasive procedures.