Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of video-assisted thoracoscopic anatomic segmental resection on postoperative lung function and inflammatory response in patients with early non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods A total of 92 patients with early stage NSCLC admitted to the Department of General Surgery of Lanling County People's Hospital from April 2020 to May 2022 were divided into two groups according to different surgical programs, with 46 patients in each group. The control group was treated with video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy, while the observation group was treated with video-assisted thoracoscopic anatomic segmental resection. Operation related indexes (operation time,number of lymph dissection, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage time, postoperative drainage volume and postoperative hospital stay) were recorded in the two groups. The changes of lung function (forced vital capacity (FVC), maximum volume of air volume (MVV), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁)) and inflammatory response indicators [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)] before and after operation were compared between the two groups. The complication rate and recurrence rate of the two groups were investigated after 6 months of follow-up. Results Compared with the control group, the operation time of the observation group was extended, but the intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, postoperative drainage time and hospital stay were reduced, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the number of lymph dissection between the two groups (P>0.05). 30 days after surgery, the values of FVC, MVV and FEV₁ in 2 groups were decreased compared with those before surgery, but the observation group was higher than the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). At 3 days after operation, serum TNF-α, CRP and IL-6 in 2 groups were higher than those before operation, but the observation group was lower than the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). After surgery, there was no significant difference in the total complication rate and recurrence rate within 6 months between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Video-assisted thoracoscopic anatomic segmental resection in the treatment of early NSCLC has significant minimally invasive advantages, which can avoid serious damage to patients' lung function, improve inflammatory response, reduce the possibility of disease recurrence in the near term,facilitate rapid postoperative recovery of the body, and have high surgical safety, which can be applied in clinical application.

Key words: lung nodules, video thoracoscope, anatomical segmental pneumonectomy, lobectomy