CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT04805723Updated Mar 18, 2021

Effects of Surgery Types in Patients With Pulmonary Nodules

An interventional study of VATS and Thoracotomy in Pulmonary Nodule, sponsored by Gazi University. Completed at 1 site in Turkey. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 80 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-03-18.

Sponsored by Gazi University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Screening

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 2 years 7 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Jul 2018, registered Feb 2021).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
27
Allocation
Non-randomized
Ages
18 Years to 80 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The investigators aimed to compare the pre-post operative effects of video-assisted thoracoscopy surgery (VATS) and thoracotomy on pulmonary function, exercise capacity, physical activity level, respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, inspiratory muscle endurance, quality of life, fatigue, dyspnea perception and pain in patients with pulmonary nodules.

Read the detailed description

According to global cancer statistics, lung cancer accounts for 11.6% of all cancer cases and it is the most common type of cancer in the world. Surgery is the primary treatment approach, especially in early stages lung cancer. Cardiopulmonary fitness of patients with lung cancer is lower than healthy individuals due to the disease itself and treatments. Pulmonary function, exercise capacity and physical activity level are affected in lung cancer depending on the resected lung tissue and the type of surgery. VATS and thoracotomy surgeries, which are the most preferred techniques in lung cancer, have advantages and disadvantages over each other. There are few studies compared the early effects of two surgeries on the pulmonary function, exercise capacity, physical activity, quality of life and fatigue. And also, no study compared the effects of two surgeries on respiratory muscle endurance and peripheral muscle strength, previously.

According to sample size calculation, at least 15 patients with pulmonary lesion both VATS and thoracotomy groups would be included in the study. The demographic, physical and physiological characteristics were recorded from the patient files. Pulmonary function, functional exercise capacity, physical activity level, respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, inspiratory muscle endurance, quality of life, fatigue, dyspnea perception and pain were evaluated pre and two weeks after postoperative term. Primary outcomes were pulmonary function, functional exercise capacity and physical activity level. Secondary outcomes were respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, inspiratory muscle endurance, quality of life, fatigue, dyspnea perception and pain.

02

Conditions studied

  • Pulmonary Nodule

Keywords

  • pulmonary nodule
  • pulmonary function
  • functional exercise capacity
  • physical activity
  • respiratory muscle strength
  • respiratory muscle endurance
  • quality of life
03

In context

Multiple Pulmonary Nodules

188 studies on the registry are indexed under Multiple Pulmonary Nodules; 60 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 27 is below the median of 88 across 97 interventional studies indexed under Multiple Pulmonary Nodules.

Browse Multiple Pulmonary Nodules studies →

Lead sponsor

Gazi University is the lead sponsor of 531 studies on the registry; 99 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 80 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Being between 18-80 years of age,
  • Patients with pulmonary nodule who were planned lobectomy surgery with one of VATS or thoracotomy techniques,
  • Being able to walk,

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Any type of surgery planned except lobectomy,
  • Having heart failure or atrial fibrillation,
  • Having acute viral infections during all assessment,
  • History of acute myocard infarction within last six months,
  • Uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension,
  • Having orthopedic, neurological and psychological disorders that influence the results of study.
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Screening
Allocation
Non-randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
27 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Patients with pulmonary nodule scheduled VATS

    Patients with pulmonary nodule scheduled VATS were included in this study. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were considered. Pulmonary function (spirometry), functional exercise capacity (6-minute walk test (6-MWT); 6-minute stepper test (6-MST)), physical activity level (metabolic holter), respiratory (maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures (MIP-MEP); mouth pressure device) and peripheral muscle strength (dynamometer), inspiratory muscle endurance (incremental loading test), quality of life (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTCQOL)), fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale), dyspnea perception (Modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale (MMRC)) and pain severity (Visual Analog Scale) were assessed before VATS and average two weeks after surgery.

    Procedure: VATS

  • Experimental
    Patients with pulmonary nodule scheduled thoracotomy

    Patients with pulmonary nodule scheduled thoracotomy were included in this study. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were considered. Pulmonary function (spirometry), functional exercise capacity (6-minute walk test (6-MWT); 6-minute stepper test (6-MST)), physical activity level (metabolic holter), respiratory (maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures (MIP-MEP); mouth pressure device) and peripheral muscle strength (dynamometer), inspiratory muscle endurance (incremental loading test), quality of life (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTCQOL)), fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale), dyspnea perception (Modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale (MMRC)) and pain severity (Visual Analog Scale) were assessed before VATS and average two weeks after surgery.

    Procedure: Thoracotomy

Interventions

  • ProcedureVATS

    Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is a minimal invasive technique in which used to diagnose or treat for lung diseases. During this surgery, one or two small incisions are opened via camera and surgical instruments in patient's chest wall. Thus, less muscle and nerve tissue are damaged. Thoracotomy is an open surgical technique in which allowing visualization of the inside of the thorax. During this surgery, an incision in patient's chest wall is made between the ribs and some muscles important for respiration are cutted to remove a part of lung.

  • ProcedureThoracotomy

    Thoracotomy is an open surgical technique in which allowing visualization of the inside of the thorax. During this surgery, an incision in patient's chest wall is made between the ribs and some muscles important for respiration are cutted to remove a part of lung.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Pulmonary function test (Forced expiratory volume in one second)

    Forced expiratory volume in one second was evaluated with spirometry according American Thoracic Society (ATS) and European Respiratory Society (ERS) criteria. The value was represented as percentages.

    Time frame: first day

  2. Pulmonary function test (Forced vital capacity)

    Forced vital capacity was evaluated with spirometry according to ATS and ERS criteria. The value was represented as percentages.

    Time frame: first day

  3. Pulmonary function test (Forced expiratory volume in one second/Forced vital capacity)

    Forced expiratory volume in one second/Forced vital capacity was evaluated with spirometry according to ATS and ERS criteria. The value was represented as percentages.

    Time frame: first day

  4. Pulmonary function test (Peak expiratory flow)

    Peak expiratory flow was evaluated with spirometry according to ATS and ERS criteria. The value was represented as percentages.

    Time frame: first day

  5. Pulmonary function test (Flow rate 25-75% of forced expiratory volume)

    Flow rate 25-75% of forced expiratory volume was evaluated with spirometry according to ATS and ERS criteria. The value was represented as percentages.

    Time frame: first day

  6. 6-minute walk test

    6-minute walk test were used to assess functional exercise capacity according to the guidelines. The test was repeated twice in the same day with 30 min interval. The highest distance was recorded for analysis.

    Time frame: first day

  7. 6-minute stepper test

    6-minute stepper test were used to assess functional exercise capacity according to the guidelines. The height of the stepper used for test was 20 cm. A cycle of up and down was define as one step. The number of steps was recorded for analysis.

    Time frame: second day

  8. Physical activity assessment

    Total energy expenditure (joules/day), active energy expenditure (\>3.0 metabolic equivalents (METs)) (joules/day), physical activity duration (\>3.0 METs) (min/day), average MET (METs/day), number of steps (steps/day), lying down (min/day) and sleeping duration (min/day) were measured to interpret the physical activity level of the patients via metabolic holter device. The metabolic holter was worn over triceps brachii muscle of non-dominant extremity for two consecutive days. The patients' activity level were categorized according to number of steps and average MET sums.

    Time frame: second day

Secondary outcomes

  1. Inspiratory muscle strength test

    Maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) was performed to evaluate respiratory muscle strength. Evaluation was done by using portable mouth pressure device accordance with the guidelines. The MIP was measured at residual volume after maximal expiration. The measurements were repeated at least seven times for technically acceptable value.

    Time frame: first day

  2. Expiratory muscle strength test

    Maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) was performed to evaluate respiratory muscle strength. Evaluation was done by using portable mouth pressure device accordance with the guidelines. The MEP was measured from total lung capacity after maximal inspiration. The measurements were repeated at least seven times for technically acceptable value.

    Time frame: first day

  3. Peripheral muscle strength test

    Shoulder abduction, shoulder flexion, elbow extension, quadriceps femoris muscle strength and hand grip strength were evaluated using a hand held dynamometer. The measurements of each muscle were repeated bilaterally three times.

    Time frame: first day

  4. Inspiratory muscle endurance test

    Inspiratory muscle endurance test were performed using respiratory muscle trainer (POWERbreathe) according to incremental threshold loading test protocol. The endurance test was started at thirty percentage of MIP and each two minutes the load of test was increased by ten percentage of MIP. The highest percentage of MIP could be reached and sustained for at least 1 min was defined as maximal load and time were recorded for analysis.

    Time frame: second day

  5. Modified borg scale

    This scale was used to evaluate dyspnea and fatigue perception during 6-minute walk test and 6-minute stepper test. It was scored between 0 and 10. The lowest value was 0 which was meant no dyspnea or fatigue and the highest value was 10 which was meant worse and severe dyspnea and fatigue.

    Time frame: first and second day

  6. Quality of life scale

    European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 version3.0 (Turkish version of scale) were used. The questionnaire comprise of 30 items in which five scales and several single items are graded from 1 (not at all) to 4 (very much) except for 29-30 items. All scales and items' scores are expressed by transforming to a 0-100 scale. Higher values except symptom scale represent higher quality of life. The minimum value was '0' and the maximum value was '100'. The highest value was meant better quality of life. The highest value for symptom scale was meant worse symptom.

    Time frame: first day

  7. Fatigue

    Fatigue severity scale (Turkish version of scale) were applied. This one-dimensional scale compose of nine items scored between 1 (completely disagree) and 7 (completely agree). The minimum total value was 7 and the maximum total value was 63. The cut-off value for severe fatigue was 36 and the highest total value is meant severe fatigue.

    Time frame: second day

  8. Dyspnea perception

    The Modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale were performed to determine dyspnea perception during daily living activities. This categorical scale consisting of five expressions are scored from '0' to '4'. The minimum value was 0 which means no complain about dyspnea apart from strenuous exercise; the maximum value was 4 which means too breathless for leaving the house or dyspnea while getting dressed. The highest value was refered to severe shortness of breath during activities of daily living.

    Time frame: first day

  9. Pain severity

    To evaluate pain severity, visual analog scale were used. The minimum value was 0 mm (no pain) and the maximum value was 100 mm (worst pain). The highest score was 100 mm which was meant worse pain severity.

    Time frame: second day

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Gazi University, Faculty of Health Science, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Unit
    Ankara, Turkey
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Bray F, Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Siegel RL, Torre LA, Jemal A. Global cancer statistics 2018: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2018 Nov;68(6):394-424. doi: 10.3322/caac.21492. Epub 2018 Sep 12. Erratum In: CA Cancer J Clin. 2020 Jul;70(4):313. doi: 10.3322/caac.21609. PubMed 30207593 ↗
  • Cavalheri V, Jenkins S, Cecins N, Gain K, Phillips M, Sanders LH, Hill K. Impairments after curative intent treatment for non-small cell lung cancer: a comparison with age and gender-matched healthy controls. Respir Med. 2015 Oct;109(10):1332-9. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2015.08.015. Epub 2015 Aug 29. PubMed 26342839 ↗
  • Nagamatsu Y, Maeshiro K, Kimura NY, Nishi T, Shima I, Yamana H, Shirouzu K. Long-term recovery of exercise capacity and pulmonary function after lobectomy. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2007 Nov;134(5):1273-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2007.06.025. PubMed 17976462 ↗
  • Kaseda S, Aoki T, Hangai N, Shimizu K. Better pulmonary function and prognosis with video-assisted thoracic surgery than with thoracotomy. Ann Thorac Surg. 2000 Nov;70(5):1644-6. doi: 10.1016/s0003-4975(00)01909-3. PubMed 11093502 ↗
  • Cheng X, Onaitis MW, D'amico TA, Chen H. Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery 3.0: Lessons Learned From the History of Lung Cancer Surgery. Ann Surg. 2018 Jan;267(1):37-38. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000002405. No abstract available. PubMed 28692471 ↗
  • Upham TC, Onaitis MW. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery versus robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery versus thoracotomy for early-stage lung cancer. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2018 Jul;156(1):365-368. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2018.02.064. Epub 2018 Mar 2. No abstract available. PubMed 29921098 ↗
  • Park TY, Park YS. Long-term respiratory function recovery in patients with stage I lung cancer receiving video-assisted thoracic surgery versus thoracotomy. J Thorac Dis. 2016 Jan;8(1):161-8. doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2016.01.14. PubMed 26904225 ↗
  • Granger CL, Parry SM, Edbrooke L, Denehy L. Deterioration in physical activity and function differs according to treatment type in non-small cell lung cancer - future directions for physiotherapy management. Physiotherapy. 2016 Sep;102(3):256-63. doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2015.10.007. Epub 2015 Oct 23. PubMed 26597694 ↗
  • Schwartz RM, Yip R, Flores RM, Olkin I, Taioli E, Henschke C; I-ELCAP Investigators. The impact of resection method and patient factors on quality of life among stage IA non-small cell lung cancer surgical patients. J Surg Oncol. 2017 Feb;115(2):173-180. doi: 10.1002/jso.24478. Epub 2016 Oct 28. PubMed 27790715 ↗
  • Nomori H, Kobayashi R, Fuyuno G, Morinaga S, Yashima H. Preoperative respiratory muscle training. Assessment in thoracic surgery patients with special reference to postoperative pulmonary complications. Chest. 1994 Jun;105(6):1782-8. doi: 10.1378/chest.105.6.1782. PubMed 8205877 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Mar 18, 2021, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04805723
Lead sponsor
Gazi University
Responsible party
Meral Boşnak Güçlü (Prof.Dr, Gazi University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Mar 18, 2021
Start date
Jul 10, 2018
Primary completion
Jul 25, 2019
Completion
Jan 1, 2020
Last update
Mar 18, 2021

Study contacts

Ece BAYTOK, MsC.
study chair · Gazi University
Zeliha ÇELİK, MsC.
principal investigator · Gazi University
Merve ŞATIR TÜRK, MD.
principal investigator · Gazi University
Ali ÇELİK, Assoc. Prof.
principal investigator · Gazi University
İsmail Cüneyt KURUL, Prof. Dr.
principal investigator · Gazi University
Meral Boşnak GÜÇLÜ, Prof. Dr.
study director · Gazi University

Oversight

FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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