Comparison of Robot Assisted Thoracic Surgery With Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery in Case of Lung Cancer

Comparison of Robot Assisted Thoracic Surgery With Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery in Case of Lung Cancer: a Prospective Trial With Control Group

In this study the investigator will compare the effectiveness of robot assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) with video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in case of lung cancer.

The perioperative circumstances and postoperative outcome will be compared.

Participants are randomly subdivided (1:1) to either undergo robot assisted lobectomy or video assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy in case of lung cancer. At the end of both surgical interventions the anaesthesiologist administers the same technique of pain relief: paravertebral blockage.

The data that are going to be investigated are: operative time, conversion to spreading of the ribs/thoracotomy, blood loss, lymph node dissection, prolonged air leak, chest tube drainage, length of stay, inflammatory reaction (through inflammatory parameters CRP, IL-3, IL-6, TNF), lung recuperation (through a lung function test) and postoperative pain (VAS score questionnaire).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients must be 18 years old or older
• Patients can be male or female
• Patients with a lung tumour which is treatable with surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy
• Inoperable lung tumour
• Patients which are at risk for general anaesthesia