Objective  To compare the clinical efficacy of thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer and conventional thoracotomy in the treatment of lung cancer.

  Methods  A total of 120 patients with lung cancer were randomly divided into two groups, with 60 cases in each group. Group A underwent thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer, while group B underwent conventional thoracotomy. The pulmonary function and immune inflammation indexes before and 7 days after operation were compared between the two groups. The operation indexes, postoperative recovery and complications were compared between the two groups.

  Results  Seven days after operation, forced vital capacity (FVC), maximum ventilation volume (MVV), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), immunoglobulin M (IgM), immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin A (IgA) and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ decreased significantly in both groups (P < 0.05), CRP level increased significantly (P < 0.05), and the decreased and increased degrees of indexes above in group B were significantly greater than those in group A (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the number of lymph node dissection between the two groups (P>0.05). The operation time, intra-operative bleeding volume and postoperative drainage volume of group A were significantly better than those of group B (P < 0.05), while the indwelling time and hospitalization time of group A were significantly shorter than those of group B (P < 0.05). The total incidence rate of postoperative complications in group A was 6.67%, which was significantly lower than 21.67% in group B (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  Comparedwith conventional thoracotomy, thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer has advantages such as less trauma, less inflammatory reaction and fewer complications, less impact on immune function and lung function, and shorter rehabilitation process.