Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026
Transoral Robotic Total Thyroidectomy and Bilateral Central Regional Lymph Node Dissection for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Published on: September 15, 2023
Three-year experience with totally endoscopic robotic thymectomy
Charles Y Ro1, Joseph J Derose, Cliff P Connery
1St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY.
Background:
: Robotic technology has facilitated the evaluation and treatment of anterior mediastinal pathology. We describe a 3-year experience using the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System to perform thymectomies for a range of diseases.
Methods:
: From March 2002 to November 2004, 9 patients (3 myasthenia gravis, 3 mediastinal mass, 2 myasthenia gravis plus thymoma, 1 hyperparathyroidism) underwent totally endoscopic robotic thymectomy. Medical records and operative databases were reviewed. The cohort was divided into an early experience (group A) and a later experience (group B). Data were analyzed with the Fisher exact test and Mann-Whitney test.
Results:
: Complete robotic resection of the thymus was accomplished in all 9 patients. The mean age for the entire cohort was 40 ± 12 years (range 28-66 years) and 78% of the patients were women. No significant differences in age, gender, or operative conversions were detected between the groups. Patients in group A were more likely to have a bilateral approach. Group B demonstrated statistically significant reductions in operating room and operation time and a trend toward decreased chest tube days and length of stay. No morbidity or mortality associated with the procedure was noted in either group.
Conclusions:
: Robotic thymectomy is a safe and effective procedure. Its steep learning curve promises to allow more surgeons to adopt minimally invasive approaches to the mediastinum safely and efficiently.
