Objective:To investigate the characteristics, causes and preventive strategies of intraoperative and postoperative complications of Da Vince robotic radical resection for lung cancer.Methods:From January 2018 to June 2020, 306 patients with lung cancer who underwent robotic radical resection of lung cancer in our department were reviewed, the perioperative data were statistically analyzed. There were 154 males and 152 females, aged(58.5±10.3) years old, 238 lobectomy cases and 68 segmental lobectomy cases.Results:There were no perioperative death, no conversion to thoracotomy, and no intraoperative vascular injury. Intraoperative blood loss was(41.5±37.4)ml, 302 cases(98.7%) underwent R0 resection, 54 cases(17.6%) of intraoperative bleeding from troca mouth of robot operating arm. 32 cases(10.5%) of postoperative complications, including 3 cases(1.0%) of chylothorax, 1 case(0.3%) of pleural effusion, 28 cases( 9.2%) of alveolar fistula over 7 days with 5 cases of large area subcutaneous emphysema.Conclusion:The most common intraoperative complication in robotic lung cancer radical operation is troca bleeding, and the most common postoperative complication is alveolar fistula. Robot surgery is safe, and targeted preventive measures can reduce the incidence of complications.

Objective:To compare the short-term outcomes of segmentectomy for stage ⅠA non-small cell lung cancer by two surgical methods.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 101 patients with stage ⅠA non-small cell lung cancer and undergoing segmentectomy admitted to the Department of Thoracic Surgery of The General Hospital of the Northern Theater Command from July 2016 to July 2020, including 50 patients who underwent Da Vinci robotic segmentectomy and 51 patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic segmentectomy during the same period. By collecting the clinical data of the patients, the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, lymph node dissection stations, lymph node dissection number, drainage volume on the first day after the operation, total drainage volume on the third day after the operation, postoperative chest catheter insertion time, postoperative hospitalization days, and postoperative complication rate were compared and analyzed.Results:Patients in both groups successfully completed pulmonary segmental resection, and there were no cases of conversion to thoracotomy and perioperative death.Compared and analyzed the postoperative clinical results of the two groups, the intraoperative blood loss [(34.40±12.96) ml vs.(85.10±26.41)ml, P=0.000], the number of lymph node dissection stations(4.72±1.20 vs. 3.60±1.40, P=0.000) and the number of lymph node dissection(15.14±5.91 vs. 10.76±5.26, P=0.000) showed statistically significant differences, and RATS group was superior to VATS group.There were no statistically significant differences in operation time[(153.90±21.88) min vs.(155.39±25.04) min, P=0.751], drainage volume on the first day after surgery[(217.80±76.94) ml vs.(210.98±86.98) ml, P=0.678], total drainage volume three days after surgery[(612.60±169.93) ml vs.(595.10±203.90) ml, P=0.641], duration of chest drainage tube after operation[(5.36±2.33) days vs.(5.18±2.54) days, P=0.706], postoperative hospitalization days[(7.50±2.35) days vs.(7.47±2.93) days, P=0.956]and postoperative complication incidence. Conclusion:Da Vinci robot segmentectomy is a safe and effective surgical method, with less bleeding and more lymph node dissection stations and number than video-assisted thoracoscopic segmentectomy for stage ⅠA non-small cell lung cancer.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of digital drainage system (DDS) in patients after robot-assisted lobectomy. Methods The 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. Results Finally, 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. Conclusion DDS 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.

BACKGROUND: Da Vinci Surgical System is one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century, which represents the development direction of the precise minimally invasive surgical techniques, the aim of this study was to comparing the short-term outcomes between da Vinci robot-assisted lobectomy and video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS: 45 pairs of non-small cell lung cancer patients underwent pulmonary lobectomy with da Vinci Robotic assisted thoracoscopic (RATS) and VATS approach during the same period from January 2014 to January 2017. The operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), total number and total groups of dissected lymph nodes, postoperative duration of drainage, the first day volume of drainage, total volume of drainage were compared. RESULTS: No perioperative death and convertion to thoracotomy occured in both groups. There were significant difference between RATS group and VATS group in EBL [(50.30±32.33) mL vs (208.60±132.63) mL], the first day volume of drainage [(275.00±145.42) mL vs (347.60±125.80) mL], the dissected total number [(22.67±9.67) vs (15.51±5.41)] and total team [(6.31±1.43) vs (4.91±1.04)] of lymph node. There were no significant difference in other outcomes. CONCLUSIONS RATS is safe and effective and took better short-outcomes than VATS in non-small cell lung cancer.
Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; surgery ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; surgery ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Operative Time ; Retrospective Studies ; Robotics ; methods ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; instrumentation ; methods ; Thoracoscopy ; instrumentation ; methods

Objective To compare three surgical treatments for mediastinal mass with myasthenia gravis. Methods Retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 53 patients who underwent extended thymectomy between January 2010 and December 2017 in our hospital. There were 29 males and 24 females, aged 17-73 years. Patients were divided into three groups according to the surgical methods: a group A (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with the da Vinci robotic system, n=22), a group B (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, n=12) and a group C (median sternotomy, n=19). The gender distribution, age, intraoperative blood loss, operation time, postoperative extubation time, postoperative hospital stay, Osserman classification of myasthenia gravis, postoperative myasthenic remission rate, etc were compared in three groups. Results No perioperative death was observed in 53 patients. One patient in the group C suffered from postoperative myasthenic crisis and improved after active treatment. One patient with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was converted to median sternotomy due to the intraoperative injury of the left brachiocephalic vein. Compared with the group B and group C, the group A had shorter operation time, less intraoperative blood loss and drainage on the first postoperative day and fewer days of extubation. Postoperative hospital stay was less in the group A than that in the group C (P<0.05). The postoperative myasthenic remission rate was higher in the group A than that in the other two groups, but there was no statistical difference. Conclusion Because of the robot’s unique minimally invasive advantage, in this study, the outcome of patients with myasthenia gravis treated with Da Vinci robots and thymectomy is better than that of the remaining two groups in terms of perioperative outcomes and myasthenic remission rate. But long-term results and a large of number matching experiments are needed to confirm. However, it is undeniable that robotic surgery must be the future of the minimally invasive surgery.

BACKGROUND: Da Vinci robotic surgery system is widely used in department of thoracic surgery. The aim of this study is to investigate the treatment outcome of stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) via da Vinci Surgical System. METHODS: Clinical date of 347 stage I NSCLC patients, who underwent lobectomy and systematic node dissection from Jan. 2012 to Dec. 2017, were reviewed. 134 patients underwent robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) and 213 patients underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). To compare perioperative outcome (blood lose, postoperative drainage, drainage time, postoperative hospital stay, number of the LN dissection) and analyze overall survival (OS), disease free survival (DFS) of the two groups and prognostic factors. RESULTS: The RATS group got less blood lose [(49±39 mL for RATS vs (202±239) mL for VATS, P<0.05] and postoperative drainage [Day 1: (248±123) mL for RATS vs (350±213) mL for VATS; Day 2: (288±189) mL for RATS vs (338±189) mL for VATS, P<0.05]. There were no significant difference for drainage time (10±5 for RATS vs 11±8 for VATS, P<0.05) and postoperative hospital stay (13±6 for RATS vs 14±9 for VATS, P<0.05) between the two groups. The RATS group harvested a more number of mean stations (5±2 for RATS vs 4±2 for VATS) and amounts (18±9 for RATS vs 11±8 for VATS) of the lymph nodes, P<0.05. There was no statistically significant difference of OS between RATS and VATS group [1-year OS: 97.3% vs 96%; 3-year OS: 89.8% vs 83.1%; 5-year OS: 87.5 % vs 70.3%; overall survival time (mean): 61 months vs 59 months, P>0.05]; corresponding there had a statistically significant difference of DFS between the two groups [1-year DFS: 93.7% vs 91.3%; 3-year DFS: 87.7% vs 68.4%; 5-year DFS: 87.7% vs 52.5%; disease free survival time (mean): 61 months vs 50 months, P<0.05]. The univariate analysis found that the amounts of the lymph nodes dissection was the prognostic factor for OS and tumor diameter, surgical approach, stations and amounts of the lymph nodes dissection were respectively the prognostic factors for DFS. However, multivariate analysis found that there was not independently factors for OS, but the tumor diameter and surgical approach were independently associated with DFS. CONCLUSIONS There was no significant difference about OS between the two groups, but the RATS got better DFS. RATS got more number of the LN dissection and less blood lose.
Adult ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; pathology ; surgery ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Neoplasm Staging ; Retrospective Studies ; Robotics ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted

Objective    To investigate the preoperative localization of pulmonary glabrous nodules. Methods    A total of 192 patients admitted to General Hospital of  Northern Theater Command from April 2012 to September 2019 were selected for the study. There were 95 males and 97 females at an age of 56.47±11.79 years. All patients completed preoperative examination, and were divided into a positioning group (n=97) and a non-positioning group (n=95) according to whether the preoperative positioning was performed. And the surgical indicators between the two groups were compared. According to the substance of ground-glass opacity, they were divided into a pure ground-glass nodules group (n=23) and a mixed ground-glass nodules group (n=74) in the positioning group and a pure ground-glass nodules group (n=14) and a mixed ground-glass nodules group (n=81) in the non-positioning group . According to the size and distance of the nodules from the pleura and whether the nodules could be detected, the corresponding linear function was obtained. Results    The operative time of methylene blue localization group was shorter than that of the no localization group. In the scatter plot, the corresponding diameter and depth of the nodules and the corresponding coordinate points which can be explored were described. And linear regression was performed on all the coordinate points to obtain the linear function: depth=0.648×diameter–1.446 (mm). It can be used as an indication for the preoperative localization of pure ground-glass nodules in Da Vinci robotic surgery. Linear function: depth=0.559 5×diameter+0.56 (mm). It can be used as an indication of preoperative localization of mixed ground-glass nodules in Da Vinci robotic surgery. Conclusion    This equation can be used as a preoperative indication for clinical peripheral pulmonary ground-glass nodules.

Objective    To explore the feasibility of robotic sleeve lobectomy and bronchoplasty and to summarize the experience of quality control and technical process management. Methods    From January to December 2018, our hospital completed robotic sleeve lobectomy and bronchoplasty for 5 patients, including the upper right lung lobe in 2 patients, the middle right lung lobe in 1 patient and the lower left lung lobe in 2 patients. There were 3 males and 2 females with an age of 56.6 (39-75) years. The surgical approach was the same as the surgical incision of the robotic lobectomy. During the operation, the lobes were separated, all enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes were cleaned, pulmonary hilum was dissected, pulmonary arteriovenous vessels and bronchi were exposed, and pulmonary vessels were treated. After exposing the main bronchi, the bronchi were cut off at the distal end of the lesion, and the lobes where the lesion was located (including lesions) were excised by sleeve type and the bronchi were continuously sutured with 3-0 Prolene from the back wall for anastomosis. After the anastomosis, no air leakage was found in the expanded lung, and the anastomosis was no longer wrapped. Results    The operation time was 147.4 (100-192) min, including bronchial anastomosis time 17.6 (14-25) min. Intraoperative blood loss was 60.0 (20-100) mL, and 20 (9-37) lymph nodes were dissected. Three patients had squamous cell carcinoma, 1 adenocarcinoma, and 1 neuroendocrine tumor. All patients showed negative results in the freezing pathology of bronchial stump during operation. All patients recovered well after surgery, without perioperative complications, and the anastomosis was smooth. Postoperative hospital stay was 10.8 (7-14) days. The patients were followed up for 6 to 12 months without anastomotic stenosis or other complications. Conclusion    Since the robot system is a special instrument with 3D vision and 7 degrees of freedom for movable joints, the robotic bronchial suture is more flexible and accurate. The robotic sleeve lobectomy and bronchoplasty are safe and feasible.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of multidisciplinary team (MDT) model combined with Da Vinci robot-assisted thoracic surgery in the treatment of early non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods From July 2020 to December 2021, the patients with NSCLC who received Da Vinci robot-assisted thoracic surgery in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command were collected. According to whether MDT were performed before hospitalization, the patients were divided into an MDT group and a common group. The recovery and clinical efficacy were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 187 patients were enrolled, including 81 males and 106 females, aged 63 (56, 67) years. There were 85 patients in the MDT group, and 102 patients in the common group. Compared with the common group, the MDT group had lower incidence of postoperative complications (9.4% vs. 29.4%, P=0.017), shorter intraoperative operation time [55 (45, 61) min vs. 79 (65, 90) min, P<0.001], and less intraoperative blood loss [25 (20, 30) mL vs. 30 (20, 50) mL, P=0.029] in the same operation mode. In addition, the drainage volume on the second postoperative day [270 (200, 350) mL vs. 215 (190, 300) mL, P=0.004], the number of dissected lymph nodes groups [6 (5, 6) groups vs. 5 (3, 6) groups, P=0.004] and the number of dissected lymph nodes [16 (13, 21) vs. 13 (9, 20), P=0.005] in the MDT group were significantly better than those in the common group. The differences in the postoperative intubation time and postoperative hospital stay between the two groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion MDT combined with Da Vinci robot-assisted thoracic surgery can further reduce the risk of surgery, improve the clinical treatment effect, reduce the incidence of postoperative complications, and accelerate the rehabilitation of patients.

Objective To investigate the safety and efficacy of totally no tube three-port thoracoscopic surgery (TNTT) for thymic tumor via lateral thoracic approach. Methods The clinical data of patients with thymoma admitted to the Department of Thoracic Surgery of the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command from November 2021 to May 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into a TNTT group and a single utility port video-assisted thoracic surgery (SVATS) group according to different surgical methods. The clinical data were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 111 patients were collected. There were 44 patients in the TNTT group, including 20 males and 24 females, with an average age of 60.11±8.64 years, and 67 patients in the SVATS group, including 30 males and 37 females, with an average age of 62.40±7.92 years. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the baseline data (P>0.05). The postoperative hospital stay and intraoperative blood loss were shorter or less in the TNTT group (P<0.05), and the visual analogue scale score 48 hours after the operation was smaller in the SVATS group (P<0.05). Conclusion TNTT has a good surgical safety, and can shorten postoperative hospital stay, reduce intraoperative blood loss, and has significant advantages in enhanced recovery after surgery, but SVATS can reduce postoperative pain in patients.