Robotic-Assisted Lobectomy in Non-Intubated Patient for Early Stage Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Treatment.

Area of Science:

• Thoracic Surgery
• Surgical Oncology
• Minimally Invasive Procedures

Background:

• Minimally invasive surgery is standard for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer.
• Non-intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (NI-VATS) offers benefits but is debated for major resections.
• Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) provides enhanced precision and ergonomics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the first case of robotic-assisted surgery for a right lower lobectomy in a non-intubated patient with pulmonary adenocarcinoma.
• To evaluate the feasibility of combining non-intubated anesthesia with robotic assistance for major pulmonary resection.

Main Methods:

• A right lower lobectomy with radical lymph-node dissection was performed on a patient with pulmonary adenocarcinoma.
• The procedure utilized spontaneous ventilation under sedation and regional anesthesia, combined with robotic assistance.
• This approach is termed non-intubated robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (NI-RATS).

Main Results:

• The non-intubated robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (NI-RATS) approach was found to be feasible.
• This technique combines the advantages of robotic surgery with the benefits of spontaneous ventilation.
• It potentially reduces the invasiveness of both the surgical procedure and anesthesia.

Conclusions:

• Non-intubated robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (NI-RATS) is a feasible innovative approach for pulmonary lobectomy.
• This technique may offer reduced invasiveness compared to conventional methods for lung cancer surgery.
• Further investigation into NI-RATS for major pulmonary resections is warranted.