Vats Versus Thoracotomy For Major Lung Resection After Induction Therapy

Induction therapy has been considered a risk factor for morbidity and mortality after major lung resection via thoracotomy, but has been demonstrated to be feasible and effective in both prospective trials and retrospective studies. Induction therapy was initially felt to be a contraindication to performing major lung resection with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), but VATS resection after induction therapy has now also been shown to be feasible in small retrospective studies. Although the use of thoracotomy and VATS after induction therapy has never been prospectively directly compared in the literature, both approaches can be appropriate options depending on the specific circumstances. This chapter will review the significant published studies of major lung resection with both approaches after induction therapy.