Table 2 Comparison of clinical data between the two groups

Operating details

 Operating time (min)

192.9 ± 13.0

246.8 ± 6.9

 < 0.001

 Intraoperative blood loss (ml)

114.2 ± 17.5

111.7 ± 16.0

0.69

 Number of thoracic lymph nodes

8.5 ± 2.2

6.0 ± 1.4

0.002

  Upper mediastinum

2.1 ± 0.3

2.0 ± 0.6

0.67

  Middle mediastinum

3.3 ± 1.0

2.2 ± 0.6

 < 0.001

  Lower mediastinum

3.1 ± 1.2

1.8 ± 0.5

 < 0.001

Postoperative complications

16.7% vs 11.8%

 Pleural effusion

2

0

 Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury

0

1

 Chylothorax

0

1

Postoperative hospital stay (days)

7.6 ± 1.3

6.9 ± 1.2

0.15

Follow-up time (month)

8.9 ± 3.2

13.5 ± 8.5