Anesthesia for robotic thoracic surgery

Cardiac Tamponade Caused By Carbon Dioxide Insufflation During Robot-Assisted Thoracic Surgery: A Case Report

Various complications can occur during robot-assisted thoracic surgery for mediastinal tumors owing to carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflation. This study reports the case of a 43-year-old woman who underwent robot-assisted surgery for an anterior mediastinal tumor with the subxiphoid approach. Shortly after starting CO2 insufflation, the blood pressure decreased significantly. Subsequent examination of the mediastinum revealed a left-sided pericardial injury. Cardiac tamponade due to entry of CO2 gas into the pericardial cavity was suspected. A deliberate incision was made in the right pericardium, ultimately resolving the cardiac tamponade and substantially improving the patient's blood pressure.

A study on the appropriate dose of rocuronium for intraoperative neuromonitoring in Da Vinci robot thyroid surgery: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial

Background

This study was to explore the effect of different doses of rocuronium bromide on neuromonitoring during Da Vinci robot thyroid surgery.

Methods

This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial that included 189 patients who underwent Da Vinci robot thyroidectomy with intraoperative neuromonitoring(IONM). Patients were randomly divided into three groups and given three different doses of rocuronium (0.3mg/kg, 0.6mg/kg, 0.9mg/kg). Outcome measurements included IONM evoked potential, postoperative Voice Handicap Index-30(VHI-30), intraoperative body movement incidence rate, Cooper score, and hemodynamic changes during anesthesia induction.Results: The difference in IONM evoked potentials at various time points between the three groups was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The difference in Cooper scores and intraoperative body movement incidence rate between 0.6 and 0.9mg/kg groups was statistically significant compared with the 0.3mg/kg group (both P<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in VHI-30 score and hemodynamic changes during anesthesia induction among the three groups (both P>0.05).

Conclusions

For patients undergoing Da Vinci robot thyroidectomy, a single dose of rocuronium at 0.6 and 0.9mg/kg during anesthesia induction can provide stable IONM evoked potential. Additionally, compared to 0.3 mg/kg, it can offer better tracheal intubation conditions and lower incidence of body movements during surgery. It is worth noting that the use of higher doses of rocuronium should be adjusted based on the duration of IONM and local practices.

Continuous Erector Spinae Plane Block as Postoperative Analgesic Technique for Robotic-Assisted Thoracic Surgery: A Case Series

Introduction

The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is a recently implemented analgesic technique initially reported for thoracic analgesia and subsequently adopted for both intra- and postoperative pain management. Thoracic surgery is among the most painful surgical procedures, even when conducted with minimally invasive approach. Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) challenges the traditional analgesic regimens as one of its aims is to decrease the patient’s length of stay (LOS) whilst achieving optimal postoperative pain management. Furthermore, there is lots of growing evidence on the impact of poorly controlled postoperative pain (PP) on the development of chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP). In these case series, we aim to describe our preliminary experience of postoperative pain management with continuous ESPB in the field of RATS.

Case Series Presentation

In eight consecutive patients undergoing elective RATS procedure, we performed the ESPB after surgery with an initial bolus of local anesthetic followed by catheter insertion for continuous infusion. The infusion of local anesthetic lasted for the first two postoperative days. The effectiveness of the ESPB was evaluated through serial pain assessment with numeric rate scale (NRS) score, both at rest and during movement every 6 hours. Any analgesic rescue drug prescription was reported. We noted that the ESPB strongly reduced the prescription of opioids and of rescue analgesic. In our series, only one patient needed opioids during the first two postoperative days, and no rescue analgesic administration was noted in the remaining cases.

Conclusion

We report a small but promising experience regarding postoperative pain management with continuous ESPB performed after RATS. We implemented the ESPB before surgery. Larger studies on postoperative pain management with continuous regional blocks in thoracic surgery are warranted.

The use of artificial intelligence and robotics in regional anaesthesia

The current fourth industrial revolution is a distinct technological era characterised by the blurring of physics, computing and biology. The driver of change is data, powered by artificial intelligence. The UK National Health Service Topol Report embraced this digital revolution and emphasised the importance of artificial intelligence to the health service. Application of artificial intelligence within regional anaesthesia, however, remains limited. An example of the use of a convoluted neural network applied to visual detection of nerves on ultrasound images is described. New technologies that may impact on regional anaesthesia include robotics and artificial sensing. Robotics in anaesthesia falls into three categories. The first, used commonly, is pharmaceutical, typified by target-controlled anaesthesia using electroencephalography within a feedback loop. Other types include mechanical robots that provide precision and dexterity better than humans, and cognitive robots that act as decision support systems. It is likely that the latter technology will expand considerably over the next decades and provide an autopilot for anaesthesia. Technical robotics will focus on the development of accurate sensors for training that incorporate visual and motion metrics. These will be incorporated into augmented reality and visual reality environments that will provide training at home or the office on life-like simulators. Real-time feedback will be offered that stimulates and rewards performance. In discussing the scope, applications, limitations and barriers to adoption of these technologies, we aimed to stimulate discussion towards a framework for the optimal application of current and emerging technologies in regional anaesthesia.

Robotic-Assisted Lobectomy Favors Early Lung Recovery versus Limited Thoracotomy

BACKGROUND

 Postoperative pulmonary recovery after lobectomy has showed early benefits for the video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and sparing open techniques over nonsparing techniques. Robotic-assisted procedures offer benefits in term of clinical outcomes, but their advantages on pulmonary recovery and quality of life have not yet been distinctly prospectively studied.

METHODS

 Eighty-six patients undergoing lobectomy over a period of 29 months were prospectively studied for their pulmonary function recovery and pain score level during the in-hospital stay and at 1, 2, and 6 months. Quality of life was evaluated at 2 and 6 months. Forty-five patients were operated by posterolateral limited thoracotomy and 41 patients by robotic approach. The postoperative analgesia protocol differed for the two groups, being lighter for the robotic group.

RESULTS

 The pulmonary tests were not significantly different during the in-hospital stay. At 1 month, the forced expiratory volume in 1 second, forced vital capacity, vital capacity, and maximal expiratory pressure were significantly better for the robotic group (p = 0.05, 0.04, 0.05, and 0.02, respectively). There was no significant difference left at 2 and 6 months. Pain intensity was equivalent during the in-hospital stay but was significantly lower for the robotic group at 1 month (p = 0.02). At 2 and 6 months, pain and quality of life were comparable.

CONCLUSION

 Robotic technique can offer similar pulmonary and pain recovery during the in-hospital stay with a lighter analgesia protocol. It clearly favors the early term recovery compared with the open limited technique. The objective and subjective functional recovery becomes equivalent at 2 and 6 months.

[Robot-assisted Mediastinal Mass Resection]

In recent years, robot-assisted thoracic surgery is gaining more and widespread interest in Europe. Due to the narrow space and the complexity of anatomical structures, conventional minimally invasive mediastinal surgery may be challenging for the thoracic surgeon. Robot-assisted mediastinal surgery opens up new possibilities for minimally invasive surgery, as it permits greater dexterity, a three-dimensional view, and tremor adjustment, which allows the surgeon to perform complex procedures in small thoracic spaces. As robotic platforms continue to evolve, more complex mediastinal thoracic surgical interventions will be facilitated, translating to improved outcomes for patients. This article provides an overview of the current status of robot-assisted mediastinal surgery and summarises general aspects of the indication, set-up and steps of robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in mediastinal mass resections.

Anesthetic considerations and goals in robotic pediatric surgery: a narrative review

The morphosis from open surgeries to minimally invasive procedures is in greater part owing to the development of robotics. There has been a hiking popularity of robotic assistance for surgeries in recent years. Though a minimally invasive approach for surgery, it poses major challenges for an anesthesiologist that compound further for pediatric patients. The need of the hour for an anesthesiologist is to have a scrupulous knowledge and understanding of the associated anatomical and physiological considerations in case of pediatric patients. Major anesthetic concerns include restricted patient access, physiologic changes of pneumoperitoneum and different operative positions, risk of hypothermia, efficient fluid and peri-operative pain management. Timely anticipation, cautious observation for peri-operative complications and quick intervention to manage the same are warranted to provide high-quality anesthetic care. This simply implies that as robotic surgery plans to stretch up-to zenith, anesthesiologists shall strive to ace their part in robotic pediatric anesthesia as well. With an efficient and dynamic teamwork, robotic-assisted surgeries hold the potential to turn wonders for the future of surgery.