Table 6. Comparison of MLN dissection and pathological type between two groups.
| MLN | VATS group, average (95% CI) | TT group, average (95% CI) | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2R+4R | 7.83 (6.99–8.14) | 8.66 (8.19–9.11) | 0.14 |
| 7R | 7.08 (6.33–7.76) | 7.31 (6.94–7.68) | 0.54 |
| 8R+9R | 1.91 (1.60–2.31) | 1.74 (1.46–2.01) | 0.42 |
| 4L+5L+6L | 5.69 (5.38–6.06) | 5.93 (5.51–6.46) | 0.42 |
| 7L | 7.25 (6.76–7.94) | 8.78 (8.04–9.41) | <0.01 |
| 8L+9L | 2.07 (1.84–2.28) | 2.15 (1.72–2.50) | 0.66 |
| Average group number | 4.14 (4.05–4.23) | 3.97 (3.89–4.06) | <0.01 |
| Average node number | 16.63 (16.04–17.34) | 17.32 (16.67–17.81) | 0.12 |
| Metastatic lymph nodes (%) | 120 (3.84) | 141 (4.33) | 0.32 |
| cN0-pN2* (%) | 29 (15.42) | 25 (13.29) | 0.56 |
*, patients who were preoperative staging of lymph node negative, but postoperative pathological confirmed MLN metastasis. MLN, mediastinal lymph node; VATS, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery; TT, traditional thoracotomy; CI, confidence interval.