Who is a good candidate for VATS Lobectomy?
Good candidates are patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), typically Stage I or II, where the tumor is confined to a single lobe without evidence of spread to lymph nodes or distant organs. Ideal patients have adequate cardiopulmonary function to tolerate removal of one lung lobe, as determined by pulmonary function tests and cardiac evaluation. Contraindications include tumors that invade the chest wall or major airways, severe adhesions from prior thoracic surgery, or advanced-stage cancer with metastasis. Patients with significant comorbidities like severe COPD or heart failure may also be unsuitable.