Comparison of the Effects of Lobectomy on Immunologic Function Between Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery and Traditional Open Surgery for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

To compare the effects of lobectomy on immunologic function between video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and traditional open surgery (TOS) for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A total of 80 patients with NSCLC were recruited from Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute between June 2013 and August 2014. The participators were grouped into VATS and TOS at random. The levels of C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, interleukin (IL) 6, and IL-2R were detected before operation, 24 hours, and 72 hours after operation. The number of peripheral blood lymphocytes and the proportion of CD4(+) T lymphocytes, CD8(+) T lymphocytes, and natural killer in lymphocytes of all patients should be detected before operation, 3 days, and 7 days after operation. The preoperative and postoperative quality of life assessment of patients with NSCLC was evaluated. All data were analyzed using SPSS 17.0 software. The blood loss and transfusion volume during operation in VATS group were obviously less than those in TOS group. The levels of CPR, serum amyloid A, IL-6, and IL-2R after operation were significantly higher as compared with those before operation. The postoperative proportions of CD4(+) T lymphocytes and natural killer in lymphocytes and the number of lymphocytes were decreased compared with those before operation. The proportion of CD8(+) T lymphocytes 7 days after operation in TOS group was clearly lower than that in VATS group. The postoperative quality of life was evidently higher compared with that after operation in VATS and TOS groups. In conclusion, when compared with TOS, VATS could decrease perioperative acute-phase reaction, lighten the restrain of immunologic function, and improve quality of life in patients with early-stage NSCLC, suggesting that VATS lobectomy is an appropriate method for patients with early-stage NSCLC as compared with TOS.