Comparison of Postoperative Quality of Life and Pain with and without a Metal Rib Spreader in Patients Undergoing Lobectomy through Axillary Mini-Thoracotomy for Stage I Lung Cancer

• Main Authors: Gosho, M. (Author), Ichimura, H. (Author), Kobayashi, K. (Author), Nakaoka, K. (Author), Saeki, Y. (Author), Sato, Y. (Author), Yanagihara, T. (Author)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: NLM (Medline) 2022
• Subjects: adverse event; human; Humans; lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms; lung tumor; metal rib spreader; mini-thoracotomy; pain; Pain; postoperative pain; quality of life; Quality of Life; questionnaire; rib; Ribs; Surveys and Questionnaires; thoracotomy; Thoracotomy; treatment outcome; Treatment Outcome
• Online Access: View Fulltext in Publisher

 PURPOSE: To evaluate postoperative patient-reported quality of life (QOL) and pain with and without a metal rib spreader (MRS) in patients with stage I lung cancer who underwent lobectomy through axillary mini-thoracotomy (AMT). METHODS: This single-institution prospective observational study enrolled patients between January 2015 and April 2018. Their QOL and pain were evaluated using the EQ-5D and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire 30 items (QLQ-C30). The EQ-5D was completed preoperatively (Pre) and on days 1/3/5/7 (D1/3/5/7), at 1 month (M1), and at 1 year postoperatively (Y1). The EORTC QLQ-C30 was completed at Pre, M1, and Y1. RESULTS: The data of 140 patients were analyzed (video-assisted without MRS: VA/noMRS: 67, AMT with MRS: AMT/MRS: 73). Although the AMT/MRS group had more preoperative comorbidities, longer operative times, and more blood loss than the VA/noMRS group, the EQ-5D visual analog scale scores were not significantly different at any assessment point (Pre/D1/D3/D5/D7/M1/Y1) (VA/noMRS: 82/48/60/67/73/77/85, AMT/MRS: 80/46/60/66/73/76/85). Postoperative pain in the EQ-5D descriptive system and the EORTC QLQ-C30 was comparable between the groups. CONCLUSION: VA/noMRS and AMT/MRS showed similar postoperative QOL and pain scores, indicating that MRS negligibly impacts the postoperative QOL and pain.