Table 2. Criteria for considering studies.

Inclusion criteria	Exclusion criteria
The study reports the mortality and morbidity after VATS lobectomy for NSCLC regardless of stage	Review article
The study involves adult physiologic high risk patients	Duplicate report by the same institution
The technique of VATS lobectomy is consistent with the CALBG definition (anatomic lobectomy; individual ligation of hilar structures; 1 to 3 ports; no rib spreading; video monitor used for guidance; mediastinal/hilar nodal sampling or dissection)	Fewer than 10 VATS lobectomy cases in the study
The contribution of segmental resection or pneumonectomy cases is <10%

VATS = video-assisted thoracic surgery, NSCLC = non-small cell lung cancer, CALGB = Cancer and Leukemia Group B.