Background and objective In recent years, Da Vinci robot system applied in the treatment of intratho-racic surgery mediastinal diseases become more mature. hTe aim of this study is to summarize the clinical data about mediasti-nal lesions of General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region in the past 4 years, then to analyze the treatment effect and prom-ising applications of da Vinci robot system in the surgical treatment of mediastinal lesions. Methods 203 cases of mediastinal lesions were collected from General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region between 2010 and 2013. hTese patients were di-vided into two groups da Vinci and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) according to the selection of the treatments. hTe time in surgery, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage amount within three days atfer surgery, the period of bearing drainage tubes, hospital stays and hospitalization expense were then compared. Results All patients were successfully operated, the postoperative recovery is good and there is no perioperative death. hTe different of the time in surgery between two groups is Robots group 82 (20-320) min and thoracoscopic group 89 (35-360) min (P>0.05). hTe intraoperative blood loss between two groups is robot group 10 (1-100) mL and thoracoscopic group 50 (3-1,500) mL. hTe postoperative drainage amount within three days atfer surgery between two groups is robot group 215 (0-2,220) mL and thoracoscopic group 350 (50-1,810) mL. hTe period of bearing drainage tubes atfer surgery between two groups is robot group 3 (0-10) d and thora-coscopic group:5 (1-18) d. hTe difference of hospital stays between two groups is robot group 7 (2-15) d and thoracoscopic group 9 (2-50) d. hTe hospitalization expense between two groups is robot group (18,983.6±4,461.2) RMB and thoracoscopic group (9,351.9±2,076.3) RMB (All P<0.001). Conclusion hTe da Vinci robot system is safe and effcient in the treatment of mediastinal lesions compared with video-assisted thoracoscopic approach, even though its expense is higher.

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.

Background and objective A solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) is deifned as a round intraparenchimal lung lesion less than 3 cm in size, not associated with atelectasis or adenopathy. hTe aim of this study is to learn clinical experi-ence of the treatment of SPN with Da Vinci Surgical System. Methods A total of 9 patients with solitary pulmonary nodules (SPN) less than 3 cm in diameter was treated with Da Vinci Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, California) in thoracic surgery department from General Hospital of Shenyang Militrary Region from November 2011 to March 2014. hTis group of patients included 3 males and 6 females, and the mean age was 51±9.9 yr (range:41-74 yr). Most of the patients were no obvious clini-cal symptoms (7 cases were found by physical examination, others were with cough and expectoration). hTeir median medical history was 12 mo (range:4 d-3 yr). All the lesions of patients were peripheral pulmonary nodules and the mean diameter of those was (1.4±0.6) cm(range:0.8-2.8 cm). Wedge-shaped resection or lobectomy was performed depending on the result of rapid pathology and systemic lymph node dissection was done for malignant leision. We used general anesthesis with double lumens trachea cannula. We set the patients in lateral decubitus position with jackknife. hTe patient cart enter from top of the patient. hTe position of trocars would be set according to the position of lesion. A 12 mm incision was positioned at the 8th intercostal space in the posterior axillary line as vision port, and two 8 mm incisions were positioned at the 5th intercostal space between the anterior axillary line and midclavicular line, and the 8th infrascapular line as robotic instrument ports about 10 cm apart from the vision port. One additional auxiliary small incision for instrument without retracting ribs was set at the 7th in-tercostal space in the middle axillary line. Results hTere were 4 benign leisions and 5 malignancies identiifed. Wedge-shaped resection was performed for 4 patients, lobectomy with systemic lymph node dissection for 3 patients (including 2 right middle lobectomies and 1 letf upper lobectomy) and wedge-shaped resection with systemic lymph node dissection for 2 patients of poor lung function. All of the 9 cases were completed with total robotic procedure without conversion. hTe pathological results included 3 inlfammatory pseudotumors, 1 hamartoma, 5 adenocarcinomas. All of the 29 patients were hospital discharged smoothly. hTe patients were followed up for 0.1-18.5 mo (median 11 mo) without recurrence or metastasis. Conclusion hTe SPN patients should be given active surgical treatments to improve the diagnose rate as well as the cure rate of early non-small cell lung cancer. Since da Vinci Surgical System is a safe and minimally invasive treatment for SPN, it has higher value to the diagnosis and treatment of SPN.

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.

Background and objectiveVideo-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) theoretically offers advantages over open thymectomy for clinically early-stage (Masaoka-Koga stage I and II) thymic malignancies. However, longterm outcomes have not been well studied. We compared the postoperative outcomes and survival from a cohort study based on the database of the Chinese Alliance for Research in Thymomas (ChART).MethodsBetween 1994 and 2012, data of 1,117 patients hav-ing surgery for clinically early-stage (Masaoka-Koga stage I and II) tumors were enrolled for the study. Among them, 241 cases underwent VATS thymectomy (VATS group), while 876 cases underwent open thymectomy (Open group). Univariate analyses were used to compare the clinical character and perioperative outcomes between the two groups. And multivariate analysis was performed to determine the independent predictive factors for long-term survival.Results Compared with the Open group, the VATS group had higher percentage of total thymectomy (80.5%vs 73.9%,P=0.028), resection rate (98.8%vs 88.7%,P<0.001) and less recurrence (2.9%vs 16.0%,P<0.001). Five-year overall survival was 92% atfer VATS and 92% atfer open thymectomy, with no signiifcant difference between the two groups (P=0.15). However, 5-year disease free survival were 92% in VATS group and 83% in Open group (P=0.011).Cox proportional hazards model revealed that WHO classiifcation, Masaoka-Koga stage and adjuvant therapy were independent predictive factors for overall survival, while surgical approach had no signiifcant impact on long-term outcome.ConclusionhTis study suggests that VATS thymectomy is an effective approach for clinically early-stage thymic malig-nancies. And it may offer better perioperative outcomes, as well as equal oncological survival.

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.

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.

Objective To analyze the learning curve of Da Vinci robotic segmentectomy. Methods Cumulative 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). Conclusion It shows that the technical competency for assuring feasible perioperative outcomes can be achieved when the cumulative number of surgical patients reaches 17.

Objective     To compare the effects of anterior mediastinal tumor resection by the Da Vinci robot and video-assisted thoracoscopy via subxiphoid approach. Methods     A retrospective cohort study was conducted to continuously enroll patients who underwent anterior mediastinal tumor resection between 2020 and 2021 in our department. They were divided into a robotic group and a subxiphoid thoracoscopic group. The differences of general indexes (intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, postoperative catheterization time, postoperative hospital stay), postoperative pain visual analogue scale (VAS), perioperative declining levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum prealbumin and serum albumin were compared and analyzed. Results     A total of 113 patients were enrolled. There were 76 patients in the robotic group (46 males and 30 females, median age of 50 years) and 37 patients in the subxiphoid thoracoscopic group (21 males and 16 females, median age of 51 years). Intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, postoperative catheterization time and postoperative hospital stay of the robotic group were better than those in the subxiphoid thoracoscopic group (P<0.05). The postoperative VAS scores in the robotic group were lower than those in the subxiphoid thoracoscopic group, but there was no statistical difference (P>0.05). Perioperative declining levels of hemoglobin, and hematocrit were not statistically different between the two groups (P>0.05). Declining levels of serum prealbumin, and serum albumin in the robotic group were lower than those in the subxiphoid thoracoscopic group (P<0.05). Conclusion     Da Vinci robotic and subxiphoid video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries for the treatment of anterior mediastinal tumors are both safe and reliable, with short postoperative hospital stay, mild postoperative pain and quick recovery. Da Vinci robot surgery has a slight advantage in the treatment outcome.