Initial Experiences With Robotic Single-Site Thoracic Surgery for Mediastinal Masses

Area of Science:

• Thoracic Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Robotic Surgery

Background:

• The da Vinci Single-Site platform is widely used, but its application in thoracic surgery was previously unreported.
• This study details the initial experiences with robotic single-site surgery in the thoracic field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report surgical outcomes and experiences with robotic single-site surgery in thoracic procedures.
• To evaluate the safety and feasibility of this approach for mediastinal masses.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 14 patients who underwent robotic single-site thoracic surgery.
• Procedures were performed at two different institutions.

Main Results:

• All 14 cases were successfully completed without conversion to multiport robotic surgery.
• Common diagnoses included thymic and pericardial cysts; median mass size was 4.1 cm.
• Median operative time was 105 minutes; one patient experienced manageable pleural effusion.
• Compared to thoracoscopic single-port surgery, robotic approach had longer operative time and higher cost.

Conclusions:

• Robotic single-site thoracic surgery for mediastinal masses is a safe and feasible procedure.
• Initial cases were relatively simple, but future advancements may allow for more complex procedures.