Causes, predictors and consequences of conversion from VATS to open lung lobectomy

Background To analyze causes, predictors and consequences of conversions from intended VATS lobectomy to open surgery. Methods This is a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database. Results From 2009 until December 2012, 232 patients were scheduled for anatomical VATS resection. Conversion to open surgery was necessary in 15 (6.5 %) patients. Reasons for conversion were bleeding in six, oncologic in five and technical in four patients (adhesions after pleuritis or radiotherapy for other tumors: 3; limited space: 1). In a univariable exact logistic regression analysis, conversion rate was significantly higher in patients after induction therapy ( p = 0.019). There was also a statistical trend to a higher conversion rate in patients with larger tumor size (