Open AccessExperience with the “ d a V inci” robotic system for early‐stage thymomas: Report of 23 cases
Author(s) -
Huang Ping,
Ye Bo,
Yang Yu,
Tantai JiCheng,
Zhao Heng
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
thoracic cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1759-7714
pISSN - 1759-7706
DOI - 10.1111/1759-7714.12097
Subject(s) - medicine , thymectomy , thymoma , stage (stratigraphy) , surgery , pathological , myasthenia gravis , paleontology , biology
Background The aim of this study was to report a single referral center experience in robotic extended thymectomy for clinical early stage thymomas, evaluating its safety, feasibility and efficacy, with special regard to oncological outcomes. Methods Between J anuary 2009 and D ecember 2012, we retrospectively selected patients who underwent robotic extended thymectomy for clinical early stage thymomas. Operative time, morbidity, mortality, duration of hospitalization, and overall and disease‐free survival were analyzed. Results There were 23 patients (15 males, eight females) with a mean age of 49.3 years (range 20–66). There were no intra‐operative complications, and no mortality. The mean operative time was 85.2 minutes (range 60–180). No patient underwent conversion to open surgery. All post‐operative complications (4.3%) were conservatively treated. The mean post‐operative stay was 3.6 days (range two to nine). The pathological analysis revealed Masaoka stage I (21 cases) and II (two cases). No disease recurrence occurred at a mean follow‐up of 24.8 months. Conclusions Robotic thymectomy is a safe and feasible technique, with a short operative time and low morbidity. Even on a small series with short follow‐up, robotic extended thymectomy for thymoma appeared to be an effective treatment for early‐stage thymomas.