This comparative study was carried out to define the advantages and disadvantages of the three methods of video-assisted lobectomy and systematic dissection of the mediastinal nodes, close distance two ports VATS, normal two ports VATS and three ports VATS.

Between Sep. 2012 and Sep. 2014 in Peking University First Hospital and Beijing Hospital, 319 patients who were diagnosed primary lung cancer and were going to be performed VATS lobectomy and systematic lymph node dissection, were selected, 265 patients were included in this study finally. 113 cases were involved in the group of close distance two ports VATS, 79 cases in normal two ports VATS and 73 cases in three ports VATS. The clinical data were gathered and statistically analyzed.

No severe postoperative complications or death occurred in the three groups. No significant differences existed among the three groups in intraoperative blood loss, duration and volume of chest tube drainage, hospital stay after surgery, hospitalization expenses and complications (P>0.05). The data about operating time, number of dissected lymph nodes, postoperative pain score was significantly different [(241.5±56.8) min vs (112.5±0.8)min vs (119.1±12.6) min、(14.5±2.9) gold vs (22.4±6.6)gold vs (21.3±3.7)gold、(3.2±6.0) branch vs (7.8±7.1) branch vs (10.3±6.5) branch, P<0.05].

The method of close distance two ports video-assistant lobectomy and systematic dissection of the mediastinal nodes is safe and practicable with definite therapeutic effect. Compared with the other two methods, there is obviously advantage in postoperative pain.