Enhanced Trocar Design Optimizes Robotic-Assisted Lung Resection

Area of Science:

• Thoracic Surgery
• Surgical Innovation
• Robotic Surgery

Background:

• Robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) has advanced minimally invasive thoracic procedures.
• Optimizing trocar design is crucial for improving surgical outcomes and patient recovery.
• Existing trocar designs may present limitations in specific RATS applications, such as uniportal or biportal approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the initial clinical experience with a novel downsized bevel-cut trocar for lung resection in RATS.
• To assess the functional advantages and safety profile of this modified trocar design.
• To compare perioperative and postoperative outcomes between the modified bevel-cut trocar and conventional trocars in RATS.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of 34 patients undergoing RATS anatomical lung resection was conducted.
• Patients were divided into two groups: those using a modified bevel-cut trocar (n=12) and those using conventional trocars (n=22).
• Perioperative outcomes, including incision length and operative time, were analyzed and compared between the groups.

Main Results:

• The modified bevel-cut trocar group demonstrated significantly shorter utility incision lengths compared to the conventional trocar group (p < 0.001).
• Exploratory analysis indicated shorter operative times in the modified trocar group for both uniportal and biportal RATS (p=0.007 and p=0.039, respectively).
• No conversions, major complications, or mortality were observed in either group.

Conclusions:

• The downsized bevel-cut trocar represents a safe and practical advancement for uniportal and biportal RATS lung resections.
• This innovative trocar design contributes to reduced invasiveness and potentially improved surgical efficiency.
• Further research with larger sample sizes may further elucidate the benefits of this modified trocar in RATS procedures.