Different Endotracheal Intubations for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Surgery: A Retrospective-Case-Matched Study on Postoperative Complications and Quality of Life

Background: Lung isolation and separation is still controversial in thoracic surgery. Preferences of the surgeon can drive the decision to use single-vs. double-lumen endotracheal intubation. We aimed to compare complications and quality of life (QOL) after radical lung cancer resection with a single-lumen tube (ST) and a double-lumen tube (DT) for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods: A total of 309 patients who underwent radical lung cancer resection with video-assisted thoracoscopy-lobectomy were subsequently included in the study. Based on the type of endotracheal intubation tube used during surgery, we divided all the patients into a single-lumen tube group (ST-G) and double-lumen tube group (DT-G). Then, we applied propensity score matching (1:1) to balance the baseline characteristics between the two groups. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) of two-factor repeated measures data was performed to compare postoperative complications at three and six months after surgery and postsurgical QOL at baseline at one month, three months, six months, and twelve months.Results: Within three months after surgery, patients in the ST-G presented less cough symptoms in Lung Cancer Symptom Scale (LCSS), lower cough symptom scores (CSS) (one month and three months,p < 0.05) and better performance of Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) scores in physical part (one month, three months and six months, p < 0.05) with better overall QOL (one month and three months,p < 0.05) than those in the DT-G.Conclusions: Patients with STs displayed less postoperative cough symptoms and higher overall QOL than those with DTs. Although DT is the gold standard for thoracic surgeries, we suggest that postoperative cough symptoms should be given sufficient attention by surgeons.