Intra-operative conversion during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy is not a failure as long as emergency is avoided

During the last 25 years, the introduction of minimally invasive surgery has deeply modified treatment and management of surgical thoracic diseases including lung cancer. Modern thoracoscopy, also known as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), owes its outstanding spreading to a meaningful series of advantages. These advantages can be summarized as follows: (I) less postoperative pain; (II) less inflammatory response; (III) shorter chest tube and hospital staying; (IV) faster recovery; (V) few postoperative respiratory problems; (VI) better cosmetic outcomes; (VII) better compliance with adjuvant therapies; (VIII) better early postoperative quality of life.