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OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility, safety and short term efficacy of video assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) lobectomy for patients with earlystage lung cancer. METHODS: We reviewed clinical data of 138 consecutive patients with early stage lung cancer who underwent lobectomy in the First People's Hospital of Jining during the January 2010 to May 2012. Of them, 71 cases were performed complete VATS, male 39 cases, female 32 cases, age (57.9 ± 10.6) years old; 67 cases were performed thoracotomy, male 36 cases, female 31 cases, age (60.3 ± 8.2) years old. Clinical features were collected and compared. RESULTS: Operations of two groups were successfully finished. Compared with thoracotomy group, the differences in intraoperative blood loss (147 ± 113 ml vs. 146 ± 91 ml), number of lymph node dissection group (3.1 ± 1.3 vs. 3.4 ± 1.3), the number of lymph node dissection (9.9 ± 3.6 vs. 10.0 ± 3.6), and vision analog score (VAS) of postoperative 1st and 3rd day in VATS group were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Statistical differences were observed in operation time (119 ± 27 min vs. 135 ± 29 min), the thoracic drainage tube time (3.0 ± 0.9 d vs. 3.8 ± 1.2 d), postoperative hospital stay (8.0 ± 2.1 d vs. 10.2 ± 5.4 d), postoperative VAS of 30th day (2.6 ± 0.7 vs. 3.2 ± 1.1), and postoperative complications (8.5% vs. 19.4%) between the two groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Video assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy for early lung cancer is safe and effective, with fewer traumas, fewer complications, faster postoperative recovery, milder chronic chest pain, and other advantages. At the same time, the lymph node dissection of VATS lobectomy is similar to that of thoracotomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]