Objective To investigate the clinical effect of digital drainage system (DDS) in patients after robot-assisted lobectomy. MethodsThe clinical data of the patients who underwent da Vinci robot-assisted lobectomy from August 2020 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into a DDS group and a conventional group (using traditional single thoracic drainage tube device) according to different drainage devices used after operation. The preoperative data, intraoperative blood loss, total drainage volume within 48 h after operation, postoperative extubation time and postoperative hospital stay were compared between the two groups. ResultsFinally, 170 patients were collected, including 76 males and 94 females with an average age of 61.8±8.7 years. Postoperative extubation time [5.53 (6.00, 7.00) days vs. 6.36 (6.00, 8.00) days, Z=–2.467, P=0.014] and postoperative hospital stay [7.80 (8.00, 10.00) days vs. 8.94 (9.00, 10.00) days, Z=–2.364, P=0.018] in the DDS group were shorter than those in the conventional group. For patients with postoperative persistent air leak, postoperative extubation time (Z=–2.786, P=0.005) and postoperative hospital stay (Z=–2.862, P=0.003) in the DDS group were also shorter than those in the conventional group. ConclusionDDS has a positive effect on enhanced recovery after robot-assisted lobectomy, which is safe and stable, and is beneficial to postoperative rehabilitation and shortening the average hospital stay.
Thymectomy is an important treatment for thymoma and myasthenia gravis. The application of minimally invasive surgery to complete thymectomy and rapid recovery of patients after surgery is a developmental goal in thoracic surgery technology. Surgical robots have many technical advantages and are applied for many years in mediastinal tumor resections, a process that has led to its recognition. We published this consensus with the aim of examining how to ensure surgical safety based on the premise that better use of surgical robots achieving rapid recovery after surgery. We invited multiple experts in thoracic surgery to discuss the safety and technical issues of thymectomy under nonintubated anesthesia, and the consensus was made after several explorations and modifications.
This article systematically elucidates the current development status and future trends of robot-assisted surgery worldwide. Currently, robotic surgery led by the Da Vinci Surgical System has been widely adopted across multiple disciplines, including thoracic surgery, urology, and gynecology, demonstrating advantages such as precision, stability, and minimal invasiveness. Significant regional disparities exist in the global distribution of robotic surgery, reflecting inequalities in healthcare resources and economic development worldwide. China is rapidly emerging in the field of robotic surgery, undergoing a strategic transition from technology adoption to independent innovation: domestically developed systems (e.g., Toumai, Surgibot) have demonstrated safety and efficacy in multidisciplinary clinical practice; leveraging the advantages of 5G technology, remote robotic surgery has progressed from proof-of-concept to clinical reality, offering innovative solutions for equitable healthcare resource allocation; meanwhile, a quality control system spanning from national strategic planning to clinical operational standards is under development. Confronted with core challenges such as high costs, technical barriers (e.g., lack of force feedback), steep learning curves, lagging regulatory and ethical frameworks, and uneven regional development, future robotic surgery will deeply integrate artificial intelligence, evolving toward single-port/flexible miniaturization, normalization of remote surgery, and personalized precision treatment. Ultimately, it will drive the transformation of surgical medicine toward a new paradigm characterized by greater precision, intelligence, and accessibility, and is expected to play a strategic role in public health emergencies and disaster relief operations.
Objective To investigate application values and techniques of robot-assisted extended thymectomy for the treatment of typeⅠmyasthenia gravis （MG） using Da Vinci S system. Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 3 patients with MG who underwent robot-assisted extended thymectomy in General Hospital of Shenyang Military Command from March 2012 to September 2012. All the patients were ocular MG （typeⅠ） including 2 men （33 years and 66 years old respectively） and 1 woman （21 years old）. Surgical outcomes were analyzed. Results All the 3 patients successfully received robot-assisted extended thymectomy without accessorial incisions. None of the patients required converting to open sternotomy or postoperative reexploration for bleeding. Intraoperative blood loss was 5-10 ml．Overall operation time was95-138 minutes, and thymoma dissection time was 26-80 minutes. No myasthenic crisis or other major postoperative complic-ation occurred. Postoperative chest drainage duration was 3-9 days and postoperative hospital stay was 10-15 days. Two patientswere followed up for 6-12 months after discharge without MG recurrence. Conclusion Robot-assisted extended thymectomy is safe and feasible for the treatment of typeⅠMG with satisfactory results．
Objective To summarize our initial experience in robot-assisted lobectomy for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC）. Methods A total of 20 NSCLC patients underwent robot-assisted pulmonary lobectomy in General Hospital of Shenyang Military Command from March to September 2012. There were 13 males and 7 females, and their age was 43-80 （60.40±8.07） years. Single-direction thoracoscopic lobectomy technique was used，and systemic mediastinal and hilar lymph node dissection was routinely performed during the operation. There were 4 right upper lobectomies，7 right lower lobectomies，1 right middle lobectomy，7 left lower lobectomies，and 1 left upper lobectomy. Results Postoperative pathological examination showed adenocarcinoma in 12 patients，squamous cell carcinoma in 5 patients，adenosquamous carcinoma in 2 patients，and mucoepidermoid carcinoma in 1 patient. One patient undergoing left upper lobectomy had intraoperative pulmonary artery bleeding of 500 ml，who was healed by pulmonary artery repair via an accessory small incision and blood transfusion of 400 ml. All the other 19 patients successfully underwent robot-assisted lobectomy with their mean intraoperative blood loss of 60.00±42.95 （10-200） ml, and no blood transfusion was needed for them. All the patients were successfully extubated after operation, and none of the patients had severe postoperative complication. The mean thoracic drainage time was 9.35±3.48 （3-15） days. All the patients were discharged uneventfully and followed up for 2-9 （6.01±2.09） months without recurrence or metastasis. Conclusions Robot-assisted pulmonary lobectomy using Da Vinci S Surgical System is safe and feasible，and especially advantageous for lymph node dissection. It can be used for the treatment of early stage NSCLC.
Robotic surgery system has been widely used in various types of pulmonary resections. With the unremitting efforts of Chinese thoracic surgeons, the quantity and quality of robotic pulmonary resections in China have reached a remarkable level. With the development and rapid promotion of this technology, the popularity of robotic surgery is also increasing. In order to standardize the clinical practice, guarantee the quality of treatment and promote the development of robotic pulmonary resections, the Committee of Thoracic Surgery, Doctor Society of Medical Robotics, Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized relevant domestic experts to formulate the consensus of Chinese clinical experts on robot-assisted lung cancer surgery.
Objective To summarize the clinical data about mediastinal lesions, then to analyze the treatment effect of da Vinci robot system in the surgical treatment of mediastinal lesions. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 49 patients with mediastinal lesions in our hospital between January 2016 and October 2017. These patients were divided into two groups including a da Vinci robot group and a video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) group according to the selection of the treatments. There were 25 patients with 14 males and 11 females at age of 56.5±17.9 years in the da Vinci group and 24 patient with 15 males and 11 females at age of 53.0±17.8 years in the VATS group. Results There was no statistical difference in surgery time between the two groups (t=–0.365, P=0.681). Less intraoperative blood loss (t=–2.569, P<0.001), less postoperative drainage amount within three days after surgery (t=–6.325, P=0.045), shorter period of bearing drainage tubes after surgery (t=–1.687, P=0.024), shorter hospital stays (t=–3.689, P=0.021), lower visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of postoperative 48 hours (t=–7.214, P=0.014) with a statistical difference in the da Vinci robot group compared with the VATS group. Conclusion The da Vinci robot system is safe and efficient in the treatment of mediastinal lesions compared with video-assisted thoracoscopic approach.
ObjectiveTo analyze the learning curve of Da Vinci robotic segmentectomy. MethodsCumulative sum analysis (CUSUM) was used to analyze the learning curve of Da Vinci robotic segmentectomy performed by the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command from February 2018 to December 2020. The learning curve was obtained by fitting, and R2 was used to judge the goodness of fitting. The clinical data of patients in different stages of learning curve were compared and analyzed. Results The first 50 patients who received Da Vinci robotic segmentectomy were included, including 24 males and 26 females, with an average age of 61.9±10.6 years. The operation time decreased gradually with the accumulation of operation patients. The goodness of fitting coefficient reached the maximum value when R2=0.907 (P<0.001), CUSUM (n) =0.009×n3?0.953×n2+24.968×n?7.033 (n was the number of patients). The fitting curve achieved vertex crossing when the number of patients reached 17. Based on this, 50 patients were divided into two stages: a learning and improving stage and a mastering stage. There were statistical differences in the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, number of lymph node dissection, postoperative catheter time, postoperative hospital stay, and postoperative complications between the two stages (P<0.05). ConclusionIt shows that the technical competency for assuring feasible perioperative outcomes can be achieved when the cumulative number of surgical patients reaches 17.
Objective To analyze the feasibility of totally no tube (TNT) in da Vinci robotic mediastinal mass surgery and its significance for fast track surgery. Methods A total of 79 patients receiving robotic mediastinal TNT surgery in the General Hospital of Shenyang Military Command from January 2016 to December 2017 were enrolled as a TNT group; 35 patients receiving robotic mediastinal surgery in General Hospital of Shenyang Military Command from January 2014 to December 2017 and 54 patients receiving thoracoscopic mediastinal surgery during the same period were enrolled as a non-TNT group and a video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) group. The muscle relaxation and tracheal intubation/laryngeal masking time, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative ICU stay, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS), hospitalization costs and postoperative complications and other related indicators were retrospectively analyzed among the three groups. Results Surgeries were successfully completed in 168 patients with no transfer to thoracotomy, serious complications (postoperative complications in 9 patients) or death during the perioperative period. All patients were discharged. Compared with the non-TNT group, the TNT group had significantly less muscle relaxation-tracheal intubation/laryngeal masking time, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, VAS pain score, ICU stay, postoperative hospital stay (P<0.01); there was no significant difference in the total cost of hospitalization between the two groups (P>0.05). Between the non-TNT group and the VATS group, there was no significant difference in time of muscle relaxation and tracheal intubation, operation time and ICU stay (P>0.05). The non-TNT group was superior to the VATS group in terms of intraoperative blood loss, VAS pain scores on the following day after operation, chest drainage volume 1-3 days postoperatively, postoperative catheterization time and postoperative hospital stay (P<0.05); but the cost of hospitalization in the non-TNT group was significantly higher (P=0.000). Conclusion The da Vinci robot is safe and feasible for the treatment of mediastinal masses. At the same time, TNT is also safe and reliable on the basis of robotic surgery which has many advantages such as better comfort, less pain, ICU stay and hospital stay as well as faster recovery.
ObjectiveTo compare the effect on postoperative immune function between da Vinci robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) , and to provide clinical support for more effective surgical procedures.MethodsA total of 90 patients undergoing radical resection of pulmonary carcinoma in our hospital from June to November 2019 were included. There were 49 males and 41 females with an average age of 62.67 (37-84) years. Among them, 50 patients underwent da Vinci robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (a RATS group) and 40 patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (a VATS group). The perioperative indexes as well as postoperative inflammatory factors and immune level effects between the two groups were compared.ResultsCompared with the VATS, RATS could significantly shorten the operation time and decrease intraoperative blood loss (P<0.05). RATS also effectively reduced the increase of postoperative inflammatory factor level (P<0.05). But there was no significant difference in postoperative immune function between the RATS group and the VATS group (P>0.05).ConclusionRATS is superior to VATS in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer in perioperative indicators and inflammatory factors.