Initial Outcome of Single-port Robotic Surgery for Mediastinal Tumours with 23 Cases

This study aimed to report the safety, feasibility, initial outcomes, and utility of the da Vinci SP (single-port) robotic system for mediastinal tumour resection. The primary end-points were defined as the rate of conversion to thoracotomy/sternotomy or additional ports (feasibility), and the incidence of 30-day postoperative complications classified as Clavien-Dindo grade ≥IIIa (safety).

We retrospectively analysed data from 23 patients who underwent da Vinci SP robot-assisted mediastinal tumour resection via the subxiphoid or subcostal approaches at our institution since February 2024. The primary end-points (conversion rate and severe complication rate) and key perioperative outcomes, including surgical time, console time, blood loss, drainage duration, and length of hospital stay, were assessed.

The median operative time was 128 min and the median console time was 96 min. The median blood loss was 10 g, with a median drainage period of 1 day and a median hospital stay of 5 days. The conversion rate was 0% (0/23 cases), and the severe complication rate was 0% (0/23 cases). All patients underwent R0 resection.

Our initial experience with 23 cases suggests that the da Vinci SP single-port robotic system for mediastinal tumour resection is safe and feasible, with favourable short-term postoperative outcomes. Further accumulation of cases and comparative studies with conventional multiport robotic systems, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), and open surgery are warranted to assess the long-term efficacy and patient prognoses.

H2025-092 (Observational study to verify the results of robotic surgery in thoracic surgery).