VATS lobectomy: learning curve in a setting of experienced VATS surgery

Background: VATS lobectomy is widely accepted as a standard procedure for the treatment of early stage lung cancer nowadays, but the method is not implemented that widely. A lot of colleagues are afraid of taking this hurdle. The same situation could be observed at our department. We visited several workshops to get instructions how to begin until we really made it. Material and Methods: Four thoracic surgeons with a minimum of 8 years of experience, well trained in VATS surgery but having almost no experience in VATS lobectomy started the program at the same time. One senior surgeon with 80 VATS lobectomies don…