Objective Clinical adoption of robotic lobectomy for management of lung cancer is rapidly increasing across the world. Several studies have evaluated the technique with regards to perioperative and cost outcomes, with evidence beginning to grow regarding long-term oncologic outcomes. We report perioperative and oncologic outcomes in our single institution experience with 500 consecutive robotic lobectomies, including a significant portion for locally advanced disease. Methods This study is a retrospective review of the first 500 robotic lobectomies performed at our institution from 2010 to 2018. Segmentectomy, pneumonectomy, and lobectomy for other conditions were excluded. Descriptive statistics and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis are presented. Results Pathologic stage distribution was IA in 194 (39%), IB in 54 (11%), IIA in 41 (8%), IIB in 109 (22%), IIIA in 83 (17%), IIIB in 11 (2%), and IV in 8 (2%). Elective conversion occurred in 26 cases (5.2%) and emergent conversion occurred in 3 cases (0.6%). Mean length of stay was 3.7 days (1 to 40). The most common complications encountered were atrial fibrillation in 71 (14.2%) and prolonged air leak in 49 (9.8%). Thirty-day mortality occurred in 3 patients (0.6%). Nodal upstaging was 16.6%. Stage specific overall survival outcomes included an 84% survival for stage IA patients, 73% for IB, 68% for IIA, 63% for IIB, and 49% for IIIA disease. Conclusions Robotic lobectomy for lung cancer is a feasible technique for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer with low perioperative morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, excellent oncologic outcomes can be achieved with this approach.

Objectives Locally advanced lung cancers present a significant challenge to minimally invasive thoracic surgeons. An increasing number of centers have adopted robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries for these complex operations. In this study, we compare surgical margins achieved, conversion rates to thoracotomy, perioperative mortality and thirty-day readmission rates for robotic and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy for locally advanced lung cancers. Methods Using the National Cancer Database (NCDB), we identified patients with Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy/radiotherapy, had clinical N1/N2 disease or in the absence of these two features had a tumour > 5 cm treated with either robotic or VATS lobectomy between 2010 and 2016. Perioperative outcomes and conversion rates were compared between robotic and VATS lobectomy. Results A total of 9,512 patients met our inclusion criteria with 2,123 (22.3%) treated with robotic lobectomy and 7,389 (77.7%) treated with VATS lobectomy. Comparable R0 resections, thirty and ninety-day mortality and thirty-day readmission rates were observed for robotic and VATS lobectomy while a higher rate of conversion to thoracotomy was observed for VATS (aOR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.65, 2.39, p < 0.001) Conclusions Our analysis of the NCDB suggests that robotic lobectomy for complex lung resections achieves similar perioperative outcomes and R0 resections as VATS lobectomy with the exception of a lower rate of conversion to thoracotomy.

Background The need to reverse the coagulation impairment caused by chronic antiplatelet agents in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients with acute traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (TICH) remains controversial. We sought to determine whether emergent platelet transfusion reduces the incidence of hemorrhage expansion, mortality, or need for neurosurgical intervention such as intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring, burr holes, or craniotomy. Methods All adult blunt TICH patients (age ≥16 years) over a 4-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with penetrating TBI, blunt TBI without TICH on admission computed tomography (CT), receiving warfarin, not on antiplatelet agents, or requiring immediate operative intervention were excluded. Patients were divided into 2 groups depending on whether they received a platelet transfusion: reversal group (RV) versus no reversal group (NR). Patient outcomes were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U and Fisher’s exact tests. Results 169 blunt TBI patients on chronic antiplatelet therapy were studied (102 RV group, 67 NR group). The groups were well matched with regard to age, Injury Severity Score, Abbreviated Injury Scale-head, Glasgow Coma Score, mechanism of injury, need for intubation, time to initial CT scan, and hospital length of stay. Immediate platelet transfusion did not alter the occurrence of TICH extension on follow-up CT (26% vs 21%, P = .71), TBI-specific mortality (9% vs 13%, P = .45), need for ICP monitor (2% vs 3%, P = 1.0), burr hole (1% vs 3%, P = .56), or craniotomy (1% vs 3%, P = .56). Discussion Immediate platelet transfusion is unnecessary in blunt TBI patients on chronic antiplatelet therapy who do not require immediate craniotomy.

Initial treatment for failed anti-reflux surgery includes medical management, lifestyle changes and endoscopic dilation. Redo fundoplication may be necessary for intractability. With the effectiveness of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for obesity, we have also noticed significant improvement in reflux, suggesting a relationship between reflux and obesity. With the ongoing obesity epidemic, we have observed a higher incidence of obese patients with failed anti-reflux surgery. In this subset of patients, Roux-en-Y is emerging as a favored surgical approach for remedial anti-reflux surgery. In this review we identify crucial factors to consider, describe our surgical technique and evaluate outcomes after conversion to Roux-en-Y.