Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026
Author Spotlight: Cutting-Edge Robotic Heller Myotomy Protocol for Treatment of Achalasia
Published on: February 16, 2024
Challenges in Robotic Lung Lobectomy through the Anterior Approach
Atsushi Osoegawa1, Miyuki Abe1, Michiyo Miyawaki1
1Department of Thoracic and Breast Surgery, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Yufu, Oita, Japan.
Purpose:
Robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) has become popular because of its minimally invasive nature and reduced burden on surgeons. The anterior approach (AA) is beneficial because it utilizes the same field of view and procedures as thoracotomy and video-assisted thoracic surgery, although the disadvantages are less well-known.
Methods:
We retrospectively examined 35 consecutive patients who underwent RATS lobectomy via the AA, focusing on clinical factors and postoperative complications.
Results:
The study included 12 males and 23 females with a median console time of 177 (120-346) min, median blood loss of 0 (0-100) mL, and median stapler usage of 5 (2-10) units. Postoperative complications, classified as Clavien-Dindo grade ≥III, included three cases of grade IIIa (prolonged air leakage) and one case each of grade IIIb and grade IVa (middle lobe torsion and ventricular arrhythmia). The influence of stapling device operation cannot be ruled out in prolonged air leakage and middle lobe torsion. A moderate correlation (correlation coefficient = 0.492, p = 0.003) was observed between console time and the number of staplers used.
Conclusion:
Although no severe incidence of vascular injury was observed with the AA, complications related to the use of stapling devices were noted.
