Clinical Outcomes of Thoracoscopic Segmentectomy Versus Open Thoracotomy: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study

Background: Surgical approaches for lung segment resection both concern thoracoscopic segmentectomy and open thoracotomy. However, their comparative clinical outcomes are less well understood. Therefore, this study compares postoperative complication incidence between thoracoscopic segmentectomy and open thoracotomy. Method: This was a comparative cross-sectional study conducted at Sheikh Zayed Medical College Rahim Yar khan from December 2023 till June 2024. A total of 50 Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients aged between 40 and 75 were divided into two surgical groups, each based on tumor characteristics and health status of the patient. The patients were recruited via non probability convenient sampling technique. The data was gathered regarding preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative complications, length of stay in the hospital, and follow-up results, and make relevant comparisons between the two surgical approaches. Descriptive analysis with frequency and chi square analysis and independent t test was run. Results: The mean age of participants in thoracoscopic segmentectomy and open thoracotomy group was 56.64±6.05 and 59.04±6.38 respectively. Postoperative complications were slightly less common in the thoracoscopic group, with no mortalities in either group. Cancer recurrence was lower in the thoracoscopic segmentectomy group, n=5 (20%) compare to n=10 (40%) in the open thoracotomy group. The mean difference of hospital stay was -2.96±0.597 (p=0.002) in thoracoscopic segmentectomy vs. open thoracotomy group. Conclusion: Thoracoscopic segmentectomy is associated with fewer postoperative complications and shorter operative times compared to an open thoracotomy.