Da Vinci Xi robot decreases the number of thoracotomy cases in pulmonary resection

Comparing surgical outcomes of powered versus manual surgical staplers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The growing use of staplers, manual and powered, especially in minimally invasive surgeries, necessitates evaluating their efficacy in gastrointestinal and thoracic surgeries. Parameters analysed include anastomotic and air leakage rates, bleeding, infection, cost, and operative duration.

METHODS

We searched Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science using terms like "surgical staplers," "manual staplers," "automatic staplers," and "powered staplers." We assessed study quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal tools and conducted meta-analysis using Review Manager software.

RESULTS

A total of 43,104 patients with a mean age of 60.8 were involved in the studies. The meta-analysis revealed a significant reduction in anastomotic leaks in GI surgery patients (OR 0.31, p = 0.0001) and a significant decrease in postoperative air leakage in thoracic surgery patients (OR 0.65, p = 0.05) when powered staplers were employed. Additionally, we observed a significant decline in hemostasis-related complications for both thoracic and GI surgeries (OR 0.48, p = 0.002) with the use of powered staplers. Although individually costlier than manual staplers, powered staplers significantly decreased total hospitalisation costs (MD -1725.82, p < 0.00001) amoungst the thoracic surgeries, due to the cost saved on remedying the lower rate of complications compared to manual staplers. It also decreased the average operative times in thoracic and GI surgeries, although not significant (p = 0.06, p = 0.07 respectively).

CONCLUSION

Powered staplers surpass manual staplers by reducing operative duration, total hospital costs, and complications like anastomotic leaks and bleeding. Hence, they are poised to become the preferred alternative in future surgeries.

Cumulative experience of the anterior approach in robot-assisted thoracic surgery for lung cancer patients

Background

Robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) lobectomy for lung cancer is now performed all around the world. The camera and robotic devices are generally inserted from a low position via the thorax. We previously reported our original anterior approach (AA) for performing RATS lobectomy with a camera and robotic devices inserted via the anterior chest wall. However, whether AA is comparable or superior to the conventional approach (CA) remains unclear.

Methods

A total of 108 patients who underwent RATS lobectomy were included in the current study. We compared the AA with the CA for performing RATS lobectomy in terms of the operative and postoperative features, such as total operation/console time, blood loss and postoperative complications.

Results

Eighty-seven and 21 patients underwent the AA and CA in RATS lobectomy, respectively. The console and total operation time were significantly shorter in the AA group than in the CA group for RATS lobectomy (median console time: AA vs. CA, 112 vs. 148 min, P=0.0001; median total operation time: AA vs. CA, 193 vs. 243 min, P=0.0002), especially left upper lobectomy. Intraoperative blood loss and the frequency of postoperative complications were significantly reduced in the AA group compared with the CA group (median intraoperative blood loss: AA vs. CA, 20 vs. 105 mL, P<0.0001; postoperative complications: AA vs. CA, 8.0% vs. 28.6%, P=0.0088).

Conclusions

These results suggest that our AA of RATS lobectomy can be very easily and safely performed.

Preoperative Type and Screen is Unnecessary in Elective Anatomic Lung Resection and Esophagectomy

BACKGROUND

Preoperative type and screen (TS) is routinely performed before elective thoracic surgery. We sought to evaluate the utility of this practice by examining our institutional data related to intraoperative and postoperative transfusions for two common, complex procedures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A single-center, retrospective review of a prospective thoracic surgery database was performed. Patients who underwent consecutive elective anatomic lung resection (ALR) and esophagectomy from January 2015 to April 2018 were included. Perioperative characteristics between patients who received transfusion of packed red blood cells and those who did not were compared. The rates of emergent and nonemergent transfusions were evaluated. Cost data were derived from institutional charges and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services fee schedules.

RESULTS

Of 370 patients, 16 (4.3%) received a transfusion and four (1.1%) were deemed emergent by the surgeons and 0 (0%) by blood bank criteria. For ALR (n = 321), 13 (4.0%) received a transfusion, and four (1.2%) were emergent. For esophagectomies (n = 49), three (6.1%) received a transfusion, and none were emergent. Patients who underwent ALR requiring a transfusion had a lower preoperative hemoglobin (11.7 versus 13.4 gm/dL, P = 0.001), higher estimated blood loss (1325 versus 196 mL, P < 0.001), and longer operative time (291 versus 217 min, P = 0.003) than nontransfused patients. Based on current volumes, eliminating TS in these patients would save at least an estimated $60,100 per year.

CONCLUSIONS

Emergent transfusion in ALR and esophagectomy is rare. Routine preoperative TS is most likely unnecessary for these cases. These results will be used in a quality improvement initiative to change practice at our institution.

Perioperative outcomes of robot-assisted vs video-assisted and traditional open thoracic surgery for lung cancer: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The superiority of robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) over video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and thoracotomy remains controversial for lung cancer.

METHODS

A network meta-analysis (NMA) and pairwise meta-analysis (PMA) were performed to evaluate the perioperative outcomes using five databases.

RESULTS

Thirty-two studies involving 6593 patients were included for analysis. The NMA showed that RATS had similar operative time, conversion rate to thoracotomy, number of lymph node, postoperative morbidity, and length of hospital stay with VATS, except for lower 30-day mortality. Compared with thoracotomy, longer operative time and shorter hospital stay were observed in RATS, but no significant difference was observed in number of lymph node, postoperative morbidity, and 30-day mortality in both NMA and PMA. In lobectomy/segmentectomy subgroup, all outcomes, except for operative time of RATS vs VATS and number of lymph node, were similar with overall analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

RATS had comparable perioperative outcomes with VATS and open surgery.

Impact of da Vinci Xi robot in pulmonary resection

Background

This study sought to evaluate the impact of a da Vinci Xi surgical robot on perioperative outcomes after pulmonary resections.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected STS data was performed at a single institution for patients who underwent elective lung resections from 2012 to 2019. Patient outcomes were compared at three different time periods: before the adoption of the robot technology (predominately VATS), during the initial robot experience (the first 18 months), and after the mature robot experience (the second 18 months). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression modeling was performed to determine the factors associated with perioperative complications.

Results

Five hundred and four patients underwent pulmonary resection between the three time periods: 220 patients (43.7%) had surgery prior to the first use of the robot (predominately VATS), 126 patients (25%) had surgery during the initial experience with robot, and 158 patients (31.1%) had surgery during the mature robot experience. There were significantly less post-operative complications (15.2% vs. 34.9% vs. 39.1%, P<0.001), shorter median length of stay (2 vs. 3 vs. 4 days, P<0.001), and lower hospital readmission rates (1.9% vs. 4% vs. 11.8%, P<0.001) in the mature robot period compared to the initial robot period and the predominately VATS period, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that the robot was associated with a decrease in post-operative complications (OR 0.36; 95% CI, 0.23–0.57, P<0.001).

Conclusions

The adoption of a da Vinci Xi robot in our institution was associated with improved outcomes in patients having pulmonary resections.

Clinical efficacy of robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for posterior mediastinal neurogenic tumors

Background

Robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) has an increasing usage throughout the world. This retrospective cohort study aimed to objectively compare the surgical results between video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and RATS in posterior mediastinal neurogenic tumors (PMNT).

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 130 patients diagnosed with posterior mediastinal neurogenic tumor between 2015 and 2018. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or enhanced computed tomography scan (CT-scan) was used to locate the tumor and investigate the Adamkiewicz’s artery preoperatively. The individual surgical approach was determined by both tumor size and patient’s willings.

Results

The surgical time in RATS (43.2±12.6 min) was tended to be less than that in VATS (47.4±11.9 min) (P=0.054). Meanwhile, the estimated blood loss in RATS group (85.8±22.6 mL) was significantly less than that in VATS group (95.3±28.4 mL) (P=0.040). However, the duration of chest tube (days) and volume of drainage (mL) had no significant difference between two groups (P=0.12 and P=0.68, respectively). The postoperative hospital stay (days) of patients in RATS group (2.2±0.4 days) was significantly shorter than that in VATS group (2.4±0.6 days) (P=0.031). There were no significant differences between two groups in the incidence of the postoperative complications and adverse reactions.

Conclusions

RATS has the superiorities in terms of surgical blood loss and postoperative hospital stay over VATS for posterior mediastinal neurogenic tumor. In conclusion, RATS could be a feasible and safe way for resecting posterior mediastinal neurogenic tumor.

Pre-emptive pain management program is associated with reduction of opioid prescription after minimally invasive pulmonary resection

Background

We developed and implemented a pre-emptive pain management program wherein providers agreed to have non-opioid pain medication as a standard pain management strategy at discharge accompanied by patient education about the program.

Methods

A retrospective case-control study of prospectively collected data of patients who underwent minimally invasive pulmonary resection. We compared the outcomes among patients who were managed with pre-emptive pain management program with enhanced recovery after surgery (Pre-emptive), enhanced recovery program after surgery alone (ERAS) and standard care (control).

Results

Of the 443 patients, 132 patients (30%) were in the pre-emptive pain management group, 90 (20%) patients were in the ERAS only group and 221 (50%) in the control group. There were significantly fewer complications (15.9% vs. 23.3% vs. 38%, P<0.001), shorter median length of hospital stay (2 vs. 3 vs. 3 days, P<0.001), lower 30-day readmission rates (2.3% vs. 3.3% vs. 11.3%, P=0.002), and fewer opioid prescriptions at discharge (17.4% vs. 76.7% vs. 83.7%, P<0.001) in the pre-emptive pain management group compared to the ERAS and control groups. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that the pre-emptive pain management program (OR 0.06; 95% CI, 0.03, 0.11, P<0.001) and robotic surgery (OR 0.52; 95% CI, 0.3, 0.88, P=0.02) were associated with lower odds of patients being discharged to home with opioid prescriptions. The median pain score in the pre-emptive pain group at 30 days after surgery was 1.5 on a pain scale of 1–10.

Conclusions

The pre-emptive pain management program was associated with a decrease in opioid prescriptions after elective pulmonary resections. Successful implementation of this program can lead to significant decreases in the amount of prescription opioids in the community.

[Robot-assisted Lobectomy under Port-only Mode with Artificial Pneumothorax]

背景与目的

达芬奇机器人手术操作系统目前在胸外科得到了广泛的应用，国内不同中心采用的建立通道方式及操作流程，不同辅助操作孔多采用小切口的方式。

方法

基于大量临床实践的基础上，我们在实践中总结国内、外经验，并结合国人体型特点，对机器人辅助肺叶切除术的切口及操作流程进行了改进并实践出一套更加简化易行的手术方法。

结果

全孔道（port-only）人工气胸下机器人辅助肺叶切除术在术中解剖安全性，止血效果和伤口美观性方面，都有进一步的提升。

结论

本研究对全孔道人工气胸机器人辅助肺叶切除的流程加以优化，以期为肺癌患者更好地服务。

Long-Term Oncologic Outcomes After Robotic Lobectomy for Early-stage Non-Small-cell Lung Cancer Versus Video-assisted Thoracoscopic and Open Thoracotomy Approach

BACKGROUND

Although robotic-assisted lobectomy has been increasingly used for resection of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the long-term oncologic outcomes compared with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and the open thoracotomy approach have remained ill-defined.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Society of Thoracic Surgeons outcomes data and surveillance records of patients with stage I-IIIa NSCLC who had undergone lobectomy by robotic-assisted, VATS, or the open approach at a single center from 2012 to 2017 were reviewed. Propensity score adjustment by inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to balance the baseline characteristics. Recurrence and survival were analyzed and compared by the operative approach.

RESULTS

The inverse probability of treatment weighting-adjusted cohort included 514 patients with NSCLC who had undergone robotic-assisted (n = 245), VATS (n = 118), and open (n = 151) lobectomy, with similar patient and disease characteristics. The minimally invasive procedures were associated with a shorter median hospital length of stay (robotic, 5.2 days; VATS, 4.9 days; open, 7.3 days; P < .001) and 0-adjusted 30-day mortality rate. With a median follow-up period of 45 months, the incidence for locoregional recurrence (robotic, 7%; VATS, 6%; open, 8%; P = .9) and distant failure (robotic, 14%; VATS, 18%; open, 17%; P = .9) was similar. The 5-year overall survival for robotic-assisted, VATS, and open lobectomy was 63%, 55%, and 65%, respectively (P = .56). No difference was found in stage-specific survival for stage I, II, and IIIa. On multivariate analysis, the robotic approach was associated with no differences in overall survival and recurrence-free survival compared with VATS and open lobectomy.

CONCLUSION

Robotic lobectomy was associated with durable freedom of recurrence and long-term survival equivalent to those achieved with VATS and the traditional open thoracotomy approach.