Table 2. Characteristics of the three groups.

Group	cVATS without EA	cVATS with EA	Open thoracotomy with EA
Mean age (years)	30.4±25.0*	30.5±18.4†	66.5±13.1*,†
Length of operation (min)	41.2±12.9*	51.4±21.6†	124.3±57.2*,†
Intraoperative blood loss (g)	201.2±446.5	1.3±0.5††	44.3±80.9††
Duration of postoperative thoracic drainage (day)	1.8±1.3**	3.0±1.5	3.7±2.0**
Duration of postoperative hospitalization (day)	5.0±2.0***	5.9±2.1†	11.3±5.2***,†

*, P<0.001; **, P<0.05; ***; P<0.01; ^†, P<0.001; ^††, P<0.01. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation; cVATS, complete video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery; EA, epidural analgesia.