This meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized trials compares survival after VATS lobectomy with open lobectomy for lung cancer.[2] VATS lobectomy improved overall survival compared with open surgery without compromising disease-free survival.[1][2] The pooled hazard ratio for overall survival was 0.79 (95% HR 0.65–0.96).[2] For disease-free survival, the pooled hazard ratio was 0.91 (95% CI 0.75–1.12).[2] The sensitivity of the analysis excluded patients with benign disease and showed similar results: HR 0.78 for overall survival (95% CI 0.64–0.95) and 0.89 for disease-free survival (95% CI 0.73–1.09).[2] Subgroup analysis did not confirm the difference in effect according to age.[2] The results highlight the priority of VATS as the approach of choice for surgical resection of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer when technically feasible.[1][2]