New Technique for Introducing a Surgical Stapler during Robot-Assisted Lobectomy for Lung Cancer

• Published in: Journal of Nippon Medical School Vol. 89; no. 2; pp. 169 - 175
• Main Authors: Usuda, Jitsuo, Inoue, Tatsuya, Sonokawa, Takumi, Matsumoto, Mitsuo, Enomoto, Yutaka, Suzuki, Kento, Tomioka, Yuuya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Medical Association of Nippon Medical School 25.04.2022
• Subjects: da Vinci Surgical system; Humans; lobectomy; lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - surgery; Retrospective Studies; robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS); Robotic Surgical Procedures - methods; Robotics; surgical stapler; Surgical Staplers; da Vinci Surgical system; lung cancer; lobectomy; robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS); surgical stapler
• ISSN: 1345-4676; 1347-3409
• DOI: 10.1272/jnms.JNMS.2022_89-211

Background: The da Vinci Si version robot lacks a vascular stapler that can be controlled by the operating surgeon at the surgical console when dividing pulmonary vessels. Therefore, to initiate and safely perform robotic anatomical lobectomy for lung cancer, it is important to develop a safe method for introducing a surgical stapler. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of the first 42 consecutive patients who underwent robotic lobectomy for lung cancer at Nippon Medical School Hospital between January 2019 and December 2020. Results: Up to case 18, we performed robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) lobectomy by using a four-arm approach with two assistant ports. For dividing pulmonary vessels, the surgical stapler was introduced through the assist ports. However, since this is not the port position usually used in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), there were many difficult situations. For RATS lobectomy case 19 and all subsequent cases, we utilized a total port approach that uses three robotic arms and two assistant ports. To resect the pulmonary vessels or bronchi with endoscopic staplers, the port for the robotic arm was removed and the endoscopic staplers were placed through a 12-mm Xcel bladeless port. This change reduced operation time, blood loss, and robotic arm interference. No patient developed intraoperative complications during RATS lobectomy. Conclusion: The present total port approach, with three robotic arms, appears to be feasible for introducing surgical staplers during RATS with the da Vinci Si robotic system.