Methods: Both the “Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey” and “European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30” with “lung cancer specific module LC-13”, the subtype of EORTC developed for lung cancer, were used to assess the health-related quality of life. Two groups were created on a cross-sectional basis. The questionnaires were performed in both groups at the outpatient clinic follow-up six months after the surgery. Group 1 consisted of patients (n=18) with stage 1 nonsmall- cell lung carcinoma who had undergone lobectomy by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, while group 2 consisted of patients (n=20) at the same stage who had undergone lobectomy via thoracotomy.

Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups in the preoperative patient characteristics. No local recurrence or distant metastasis was observed in any of the patients during the assessments who has completed the survey. Patients in group 1 had higher scores in physical functioning and emotional role in SF-36 questionnaire. Moreover, the results for chest pain, arm/shoulder pain and peripheral neuropathy scores were better preserved in the video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy group.

Conclusion: This study shows that the patients who have undergone lobectomy by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for non-small-cell lung carcinoma have better preserved quality of life scores than thoracotomy patients six months after the surgery with reduced postoperative pain in chest and peripheral neuropathy.