A 90-day mortality risk model as a support in managing patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery for lung cancer

The introduction of the video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) approach for lung lobectomy in the treatment of lung cancer has led to a reduction of postoperative morbidity, length of stay and, in some studies, of mortality when compared to thoracotomy (1-3). The improvement of postoperative outcomes as a consequence of this mini-invasive approach, which minimize tissue injury and immune-stress response, has allowed a rapid diffusion of this technique that is currently preferred to thoracotomy approach in several experienced centers.