Adopting the robotic platform for anatomic lung resections: real life lessons for the tech enthusiast

[摘要] Robotic surgery unquestionably revolutionized the surgical approach to many diseases, and lung cancer is no exception. The added dexterity, tremor filtration, wristed motion and 3-dimensional magnification are undeniable attributes that helped many surgeons around the world cross the bridge from open to minimally invasive lung surgery (1-3). Like any new technology, the initial legitimate concerns were focused on safety, as the operating surgeon is physically away from the patient, and achieving oncological outcomes that are comparable to the traditional approaches. The scientific literature over the last 2 decades clearly refuted both concerns, as robotic lung surgery was demonstrated to be safe and to achieve at least similar survival to the open and thoracoscopic [video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)] approaches (4,5). Furthermore, the robotic platform allowed many to push the boundaries of minimally invasive surgery and tackle complex lung and chest wall procedures, as well advance stage disease after neoadjuvant treatment (6).

[学科分类] 呼吸医学

[关键词] Robotic surgery;safety;learning curve;injury;repair