Non-intubated VATS for thoracic surgery: observational cohort reports outcomes after propensity matching.

This was a retrospective, single-center observational cohort study of patients undergoing uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). The population included 289 patients (166 I-UVATS, 123 NI-UVATS), with a propensity-matched analysis of 98 patients per group. The intervention was non-intubated uniportal VATS (NI-UVATS), and the comparator was intubated uniportal VATS (I-UVATS).

The primary outcome was a composite of serious complications (mortality, reintubation, pneumonia, or reoperation). Secondary outcomes included 30-day mortality, length of stay, and procedure-specific complications. The follow-up period was 30 days.

Main results for serious complications, 30-day mortality, and length of stay were not reported in the abstract. Safety data, including adverse events, serious adverse events, discontinuations, and tolerability, were also not reported in the abstract.

Key limitations include the retrospective design, single-center experience, and significant procedural heterogeneity that persisted after matching (e.g., anatomical resections 36.7% in I-UVATS vs. 5.1% in NI-UVATS). The practice relevance suggests NI-UVATS may be applicable beyond traditional restrictions, but heterogeneity cautions against generalizing results.

This is an observational cohort study; associations do not imply causation. Results are limited to the abstract; full details are not reported. Do not infer superiority of NI-UVATS without full results, and do not generalize beyond the studied population or procedures.