The learning curve of robotic lobectomy

Abstract

Operative time, mortality and surgeon comfort were found to be key parameters for the learning curve of robotic lobectomy when performed by surgeons who are experienced with video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). The learning curve was 18 ± 3 cases.

Robotic Surgery for Thoracic Disease

“…Melfi et al 29) Lee et al reported that there were no differences between the initial robotic lower lobectomy and mature VATS one in terms of operating times, but not for upper lobectomy. 10) They suggested that 17 cases of robotic lobectomy were necessary for minimizing the difference in operative time between the two procedures.…”

Robotic Surgery for Lung Cancer

“…Gharagozloo et al [10] described a hybrid technique: three robotic arms are positioned at the 8th (camera), 6th, and 5th intercostal space for the dissection of hilar structures. After the dissection phase, the robot is removed, and the surgeon returns to the operating table for vascular, bronchial and parenchymal division [11,12].…”

“…consecutive patients with a mean operative time of 211 minutes and a conversion rate of 1.6% for bleeding from pulmonary artery [12]. Postoperative complications occurred in Augustin et al [34] in 2011 compared posterior (first five patients) and anterior robotic techniques.…”

Feasibility of four-arm robotic lobectomy as solo surgery in patients with clinical stage I lung cancer

“…Based on these advantages, robotic surgery has been introduced in certain fields of thoracic surgery such as mediastinal tumor excision, esophageal cancer, and lung cancer (7)(8)(9)(10). As robotics can provide three-dimensional visualization and greater instrument maneuverability in a confined space, it has the potential of enhancing minimally invasive thoracoscopic lobectomy (11). In a previous study, robotic lobectomy for early-NSCLC was reported to be feasible and safe (8).…”