The role of minimally invasive surgery in the management of lung cancer: a systematic review of efficacy, safety, and long-term outcomes

Abstract

Revolutionizing lung cancer treatment, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) offers possible benefits in terms of safety, effectiveness, and long-term results. To assess their efficiency, safety profile, and long-term oncological results, this systematic review contrasts two typical MIS procedures, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS). A thorough review of the literature was conducted through a search of electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library to find research on lung cancer patients evaluating preoperative and long-term measures of RATS and VATS. Besides free-text keywords associated with minimally invasive surgery, lung cancer, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, robotic-assisted thoracic surgery, effectiveness, safety, and long-term results, a mixture of Medical Subject Headings terms was included in the search strategy. The publication date was not limited, but only research published in English was taken into account. It was found that, although VATS had shorter hospital stays and surgical times, the meta-analysis showed RATS was linked with less bleeding, a lower open surgery conversion rate, and better lymph node dissection. Both methods had similar oncologic results as well as complication rates including long-term survival and relapse. These results indicated that although RATS has some technological benefits, both techniques are reasonable options for MIS lung cancer therapy, with choice depending on patient-specific characteristics and institutional experience.