Can a trainee safely learn video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy without open lobectomy experience?

Pulmonary lobectomy is the gold standard for the treatment of localized lung cancer; its minimally invasive approach has gained full acceptance in terms of oncological adequacy. Learning video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy is now fundamental for a trainee in thoracic surgery. The aim of this study is to investigate whether trainee without extensive experience in open lobectomy can safely perform VATS lobectomy for early stage lung cancer.