Highlights
- •The proportion of segmentectomies compared to lobectomies has greatly increased.
- •Segmentectomy was performed in older patients compared to the lobectomy group.
- •Patients receiving a MIS approach for segmentectomy significantly increased.
- •The proportion of robotic compared to VATS segmentectomies has greatly increased.
- •Robotic segmentectomies have increased in prevalence for stage 1A NSCLC.
Abstract
Objectives
Lobectomy may unnecessarily resect healthy lung parenchyma in Stage 1A non-small cell
lung cancers (NSCLC). Segmentectomies may provide a lung-sparing option. VATS segmentectomies
can be technically challenging; robotics may have features that provide advantages
in performing segmentectomies. We describe the association of the robot on national
trends in segmentectomies.
Methods
The National Cancer Database (2010–2017) was queried for patients with Stage 1A NSCLC
who underwent lobectomies and segmentectomies. The proportion of segmentectomies vs.
lobectomies and the proportion of robotic vs. VATS segmentectomies was calculated
annually.
Results
The proportion of segmentectomies increased compared to lobectomies for all surgical
approaches but remained constant for minimally-invasive approaches. The proportion
of robotic segmentectomies increased over the years compared to VATS segmentectomies.
Descriptive statistics are reported as numbers and proportions. Trends in the proportions
of lobectomies and segmentectomies were compared using Chi-squared test for categorical
variables and unpaired t-test for independent means. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics Software version 24 (IBM
Corp, Armonk, NY).
Conclusions
We demonstrate an increasing trend and proportion of robotic segmentectomies being
performed in comparison to VATS segmentectomies. The robotic platform may facilitate
the performance of more segmentectomies for early-stage NSCLC.Statistical Analysis
Graphical abstract

Graphical Abstract
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 26, 2022
Accepted:
October 11,
2022
Received in revised form:
October 2,
2022
Received:
April 20,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Journal Pre-ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2022 Published by Elsevier Inc.