ObjectiveTo evaluate clinical outcomes of single utility port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy for patients with early-stage peripheral non-small cell lung cancer. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 46 consecutive patients with early-stage peripheral non-small cell lung cancer who underwent single utility port complete VATS lobectomy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei north University from December 2012 through November 2014. There were 39 male patients and 7 female patients with their age of 42-76 (60.26±4.38) years (VATS group). There were 58 patients with early-stage peripheral non-small cell lung cancer who underwent lobectomy via traditional thoracotomy including 47 male and 11 female patients with their age of 44-73 (61.42±3.67) years for the same period (conventional thoracotomy group). Clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups. ResultsAll the operations were successful. There was no conversions during single utility port VATS lobectomy, and no periopera-tive death in both groups. The VATS group had significantly less blood loss (126.10±48.56 ml vs. 260.84±69.70 ml), and amount of thoracic drainage (230.52±50.22 ml vs. 380.16±96.24 ml, P<0.05). Hospital stay was significantly shorter in the VATS group than the conventional thoracotomy group (6.42±1.40 days vs. 9.64±2.08 days, P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the VATS group and the conventional thoracotomy group with regard to the opera-ting time (146.25±19.68 minutes vs. 139.26±25.39 minutes), number of lymph nodes procured (13.56±2.31 vs. 14.12±3.06), and postoperative complications (13.0% vs. 19.0%, P>0.05). ConclusionSingle utility port VATS lobectomy for patients with early-stage peripheral non-small cell lung cancer is technically feasible, with less blood loss and shorter hospital stays for achieving acceptable standards of lymph node dissection. It is a promising surgical procedures for patients with early-stage peripheral non-small cell lung cancer.