ObjectiveTo compare the postoperative chylothorax outcomes of robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), analyze the risk factors for postoperative chylothorax after minimally invasive radical lung cancer resection and explore possible prevention and control measures. MethodsBetween June 2012 and September 2020, 1083 patients underwent minimally invasive pulmonary lobectomy and systematic lymph node dissection in our hospital, including 578 males and 505 females with an average age of 60.6±9.4 years. Patients were divided into two groups according to the operation methods: a RATS group (499 patients) and a VATS group (584 patients). After propensity score matching, 434 patients were included in each group (868 patients in total). Chylothorax and other perioperative indicators were compared between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for postoperative chylothorax. ResultsOverall, 24 patients were diagnosed with chylothorax after surgery. Compared with the VATS group, the rate of chylothorax was higher (3.9% vs. 1.6%, P=0.038), the groups and numbers of dissected lymph nodes were more (both P<0.001), and the intraoperative blood loss was significantly less (P<0.001) in the RATS group. There was no statistical difference in the postoperative hospital stay (P=0.256) or chest tube drainage time (P=0.504) between the two groups. Univariate analysis showed that gender (P=0.021), operation approach (P=0.045), smoking (P=0.001) and the groups of dissected lymph nodes (P<0.001) were significantly associated with the development of chylothorax. Multivariate analysis showed that smoking [OR=4.344, 95%CI (1.149, 16.417), P=0.030] and the groups of dissected lymph nodes [OR=1.680, 95%CI (1.221, 2.311), P=0.001] were the independent risk factors for postoperative chylothorax. ConclusionCompared with the VATS, the rate of chylothorax after RATS is higher with more dissected lymph nodes and less blood loss. The incidence of chylothorax after minimally invasive radical lung cancer resection is higher in the patients with increased dissected lymph node groups and smoking history.
ObjectiveTo analyze and compare the perioperative efficacy difference between full-port Da Vinci robotic surgery and thoracoscopic surgery in patients with mediastinal tumor resection. MethodsThe data of 232 patients with mediastinal tumors treated by the same operator in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University were included. There were 103 (44.4%) males and 129 (55.6%) females, with an average age of 49.7 years. According to the surgical methods, they were divided into a robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) group (n=113) and a video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) group (n=119). After 1 : 1 propensity score matching, 57 patients in the RATS group and 57 patients in the VATS group were obtained. ResultsThe RATS group was better than the VATS group in the visual analogue scale pain score on the first day after the surgery [3.0 (2.0, 4.0) points vs. 4.0 (3.0, 5.0) points], postoperative hospital stay time [4.0 (3.0, 5.5) d vs. 6.0 (5.0, 7.0) d] and postoperative catheterization time [2.0 (2.0, 3.0) d vs. 3.0 (3.0, 4.0) d] (all P<0.05). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, postoperative thoracic closed drainage catheter placement rate or postoperative total drainage volume (all P>0.05). The total hospitalization costs [51 271.0 (44 166.0, 57 152.0) yuan vs. 35 814.0 (33 418.0, 39 312.0) yuan], operation costs [37 659.0 (32 217.0, 41 511.0) yuan vs. 19 640.0 (17 008.0, 21 421.0) yuan], anesthesia costs [3 307.0 (2 530.0, 3 823.0) yuan vs. 2 059.0 (1 577.0, 2 887.0) yuan] and drug and examination costs [9 241.0 (7 987.0, 12 332.0) yuan vs. 14 143.0 (11 620.0, 16 750.0) yuan] in the RATS group was higher than those in the VATS group (all P<0.05). ConclusionRobotic surgery and thoracoscopic surgery can be done safely and effectively. Compared with thoracoscopic surgery, robotic surgery has less postoperative pain, shorter tube-carrying time, and less postoperative hospital stay, which can significantly speed up the postoperative recovery of patients. However, the cost of robotic surgery is higher than that of thoracoscopic surgery, which increases the economic burden of patients and is also one of the main reasons for preventing the popularization of robotic surgery.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness and safety of robotic lobectomy in clinical N0 lung malignant tumor≥3 cm. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 182 patients with lung malignant tumor≥3 cm receiving robotic or thoracoscopic lobectomy at Shanghai Chest Hospital in 2019. The patients were divided into a robotic surgery group (RATS group) and a thoracoscopic surgery group (VATS group). There were 39 males and 38 females with an average age of 60.55±8.59 years in the RATS group, and 51 males and 54 females with an average age of 61.58±9.30 years in the VATS group. A propensity score matching analysis was applied to compare the operative data between the two groups. ResultsA total of 57 patients were included in each group after the propensity score matching analysis. Patients in the RATS group had more groups of N1 lymph node dissected (2.53±0.83 groups vs. 2.07±0.88 groups, P=0.005) in comparison with the VATS group. No statistical difference was found in operation time, blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, number of N1 and N2 lymph nodes dissected, groups of N2 lymph node dissected, lymph node upstage rate or postoperative complications. The hospitalization cost of RATS was higher than that of VATS (P＜0.001). ConclusionIn contrast with thoracoscopic lobectomy, robotic lobectomy has similar operative safety, and a thorough N1 lymphadenectomy in patients with clinical N0 lung malignant tumor≥3 cm.
Objective To compare the short- and long-term survival of patients with stage T1N0M0 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Methods The clinical data of 396 patients with stage T1N0M0 NSCLC treated with RATS or VATS in our hospital from 2012 to 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 209 males and 187 females, with a mean age of 61.58±8.67 years. According to surgical procedures, they were separated into two groups: a RATS group (n=157) and a VATS group (n=239). The two groups were compared in terms of the survival and prognosis-influencing factors. Results The intraoperative blood loss and postoperative 24 h drainage volume in the RATS group were less than those in the VATS group (48±42 mL vs. 182±231 mL, P<0.001; 250±119 mL vs. 324±208 mL, P<0.001). The groups and number of dissected lymph node in the RATS group were more than those of the VATS group (5±2 groups vs. 3±2 groups, P<0.001; 17±9 vs. 11±8, P<0.001). There was no statistical difference in the postoperative 48 h drainage volume (P=0.497), postoperative intubation time (P=0.180) or hospital stay (P=0.313). The survival state and recurrence-free survival state in the VATS group were better than those in the VATS group (1-year survival rate: 98.7% vs. 94.8%, 5-year survival rate: 90.5% vs. 75.8%, 8-year survival rate: 76.9% vs. 62.1%, mean survival time: 93 months vs. 79 months, P=0.005; 1-year recurrence-free survival rate: 97.4% vs. 95.6%, 5-year recurrence-free survival rate: 94.8% vs. 77.8%, 8-year recurrence-free survival rate: 82.6% vs. 64.8%, mean recurrence-free survival time: 95 months vs. 79 months, P=0.004). Univariate analysis showed that surgical method, the groups and the number of dissected lymph nodes were the influencing factors for postoperative overall survival and recurrence-free survival. At the same time, the results of multivariate analysis showed that surgical method was a common independent factor for overall survival and recurrence-free survival.Conclusion RATS can obtain better survival in patients with T1N0M0 NSCLC, and RATS has more thorough lymph node dissection, less intraoperative blood loss and postoperative 24 h drainage volume.
ObjectiveTo summarize the experience of robot-assisted lung basal segmentectomy, and analyze the clinical application value of intersegmental tunneling and pulmonary ligament approach for S9 and/or S10 segmentectomy. MethodsThe clinical data of 78 patients who underwent robotic lung basal segmentectomy in our hospital between January 2020 to May 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 32 males and 46 females with a median age of 50 (33-72) years. The patients who underwent S9 and/or S10 segmentectomy were divided into a single-direction group (pulmonary ligament approach, n=19) and a bi-direction group (intersegmental tunneling, n=19) according to different approaches, and the perioperative outcomes between the two groups were compared. ResultsAll patients successfully completed the operation, without conversion to thoracotomy and lobectomy, serious complications, or perioperative death. The median operation time was 100 (40-185) min, the blood loss was 50 (10-210) mL, and the median number of dissected lymph nodes was 3 (1-14). There were 4 (5.1%) patients with postoperative air leakage, and 4 (5.1%) patients with hydropneumothorax. No patient showed localized atelectasis or lung congestion at 6 months after the operation. Further analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the operation time, blood loss, thoracic drainage time, complications or postoperative hospital stay between the single-direction and bi-direction groups (P>0.05). However, the number of dissected lymph nodes of the bi-direction group was more than that of the single-direction group [6 (1-13) vs. 5 (1-9), P=0.040]. ConclusionThe robotic lung basal segmentectomy for pulmonary nodules is safe and effective. The perioperative results of robotic S9 and/or S10 complex segmentectomy using intersegmental tunneling and pulmonary ligament approach are similar.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the short-term outcomes and hospital costs of robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) versus video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for non-small cell lung cancer. MethodsThe clinical data of patients who underwent lobectomy or sublobar resection for non-small cell lung cancer completed by the same operator in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Gansu Provincial Hospital from June 2016 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the surgery approach, the patients were divided into a RATS group and a VATS group. The clinical data of the two groups were compared. ResultsA total of 516 patients were enrolled. There were 254 patients in the RATS group, including 103 males and 151 females, with a mean age of 60.0±4.2 years, and 262 patients in the VATS group, including 126 males and 136 females, with a mean age of 59.5±4.3 years. All patients in both groups successfully completed radical lung cancer surgery with no perioperative death. In terms of intraoperative bleeding (63.4±13.3 mL vs. 92.5±23.5 mL), postoperative drainage time (4.1±0.9 d vs. 4.7±1.2 d), postoperative hospital stay time (5.6±1.1 d vs. 6.7±1.4 d), number of lymph nodes dissected (17.9±2.1 vs. 13.9±1.4) and groups of lymph nodes dissected (5.4±0.8 groups vs. 4.4±1.0 groups), the RATS group had an advantage, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). In terms of operative time and total postoperative chest drainage, the VATS group had an advantage, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of postoperative complications or intraoperative conversion to thoractomy (P>0.05). The total hospitalization, surgical and total consumables costs of the RATS group were higher than those in the VATS group (P<0.05). In terms of other costs and consumables costs (one-time costs of purely high-value consumables after deduction of robot-specific costs), the VATS group was higher than the RATS group (P<0.05). ConclusionRATS offers technical and short-term efficacy advantages, but comes with the disadvantage of high costs. Thoracic surgeons can make full use of the features of the robotic surgery system, exploiting its potential to continuously improve and optimize techniques and reduce the use of high-value consumables, thus achieving efficiency and cost reductions and allowing robotic surgery to reach more patients.
Objective To systematically evaluate the therapeutic effects of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) in treating mediastinal tumors. Methods A computer search was conducted on PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Wanfang, CNKI, CBM, VIP databases for literature comparing the clinical efficacy of VATS and RATS in treating mediastinal tumors, with the search time from the establishment of the database to March 31, 2024. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to evaluate the quality of the included cohort studies, and Review Manager 5.4 software was used to perform a meta-analysis. Results A total of 31 articles were included, with 7868 patients. The NOS scores of the included cohort studies were all≥7 points. Meta-analysis results showed that compared with the VATS group, the RATS group had less intraoperative blood loss [MD=−16.71, 95%CI (−23.88, −9.54), P<0.001], lower conversion rate to open thoracotomy [OR=0.41, 95%CI (0.26, 0.67), P<0.001], lower overall postoperative complication rate [OR=0.66, 95%CI (0.48, 0.92), P=0.01], shorter postoperative drainage time [MD=−0.64, 95%CI (−0.92, −0.36), P<0.001], and shorter postoperative hospital stay [MD=−1.03, 95%CI (−1.28, −0.78), P<0.001]. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of tumor size [MD=−0.06, 95%CI (−0.31, 0.19), P=0.64] and operation time [MD=5.52, 95%CI (−2.35, 13.40), P=0.17]. The RATS group had higher hospitalization costs than the VATS group [MD=1.69, 95%CI (1.26, 2.13), P<0.001]. Conclusion In the resection of mediastinal tumors, RATS is superior to VATS in terms of intraoperative blood loss, conversion rate to open thoracotomy, overall postoperative complication rate, postoperative drainage time, and postoperative hospital stay, but it increases hospitalization costs.