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Updated: Sep 28, 2025
Transaxillary First Rib Resection for Treatment of the Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Published on: September 13, 2020
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: Single Center Experience on Robotic Assisted First Rib Resection and Literature Review
Andreas Gkikas1, Savvas Lampridis2, Davide Patrini3
1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, United Kingdom.
Background:
Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a pathological condition caused by a narrowing between the clavicle and first rib leading to a compression of the neurovascular bundle to the upper extremity. The incidence of TOS is probably nowadays underestimated because the diagnosis could be very challenging without a thorough clinical examination along with appropriate clinical testing. Beside traditional supra-, infraclavicular or transaxillary approaches, the robotic assisted first rib resection has been gaining importance in the last few years.
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of all patients who underwent robotic assisted first rib resection due to TOS at Lucerne Cantonal Hospital and then we performed a narrative review of the English literature using PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Scopus.
Results:
Between June 2020 and November 2021, eleven robotic assisted first rib resections were performed due to TOS at Lucerne Cantonal Hospital. Median length of stay was 2 days (Standard Deviation: +/- 0.67 days). Median surgery time was 180 min (Standard Deviation: +/- 36.5). No intra-operative complications were reported.
Conclusions:
Robotic assisted first rib resection could represent a safe and feasible option in expert hands for the treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome.
