Project description:Use of low-dose CT scan allows detection of lung cancer at early stages, enabling a more conservative surgery and a better long-term survival in those patients. In this scenario, intentional anatomical segmentectomy is gaining consent over standard lobectomy among surgeons. A minimally invasive approach such as VATS reduced invasiveness and complication rate compared to open surgery, but this technique comes also with some disadvantages in terms of dexterity and intuitiveness. Robotic surgery allows to overcome those limitations, making segmentectomies easier and safer to perform. In addition, it offers the possibility to utilize intravenous indocyanine green to define the intersegmental plane, allowing a more precise surgery. We reviewed the literature and describe the technique of the robot assisted segmentectomy with a focus on the new technologies available nowadays.
Project description:BackgroundRobotic anatomic segmentectomy (RATS) for early-stage lung cancer is being increasingly performed in spite of limited published evidence. To evaluate its safety and oncologic efficacy, we compared the outcomes of both RATS and video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) segmentectomy in patients with small-sized (<2 cm) peripheral stage IA lung cancer.MethodsFrom November 2011 to January 2018, a total of 130 patients with resected stage IA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who underwent RATS (n=50) and VATS (n=80) pulmonary segmentectomy were included. Clinicopathologic data, recurrence rate, and survival were recorded.ResultsThe demographics, pulmonary function, comorbidity, and tumor size were similar between RATS segmentectomy and VATS segmentectomy. The surgery time, intensive care unit stay, hospital stay, and blood loss were reduced in the RATS group compared to the VATS group. The number of totally dissected lymph nodes and postoperative complications were similar between the 2 groups. There was no operative mortality. The intensity of narcotic use during hospital stay and the time to return to routine daily activities were also reduced in the RATS group. There was no recurrence observed in the RATS group during the median 38-month follow-up period; meanwhile, during a median 85-month follow-up period in the VATS group, local recurrence and distant recurrence was observed in 2 patients (2.5%) and 3 patients (3.75%) respectively. There was no significant difference in the 5-year recurrence-free survival between the RATS and VATS groups (100% vs. 93.75%; P>0.05).ConclusionsRATS can be performed safely and effectively in patients with early-stage NSCLC. The reduced narcotic use and earlier return to routine daily activities of RATS patients might reflect its less traumatic nature as compared to VATS. For stage IA disease with small tumors (<2 cm), segmentectomy performed by RATS has better oncologic efficacy when compared to VATS, although in this study, this difference did not reach statistical difference.
Project description:Open onlay ventral hernia repair is still one of the most-used surgical techniques for the repair of hernias worldwide. The robotic anterior component separation technique uses the surgeon's usual anatomical expertise on onlay mesh placement with the manipulation and advantages of minimally invasive surgery. It maintains the precepts of reestablishment the midline integrity and insertion of mesh in the preaponeurotic space, without contact with the viscera. The use of this technique is simple and quite reproducible if you compare it with other techniques. Also, the time spent in surgery does not last long.
Project description:BACKGROUND:Lung segmentectomy is increasingly used to resect lung nodules. Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is widely chosen to performing lung segmentectomy, while robotic assisted thoracoscopic (RATS) was also one useful and practical method. There article was intended to compared the short-time outcomes of RATS and VATS in lung segmentectomy. METHODS:The patients with lung nodules underwent segmentectomy by either RATS or VATS from January 2016 to April 2017 were studied. Baseline characteristics and short-time outcomes (dissected lymph nodes, postoperative duration of drainage, postoperative hospital stay, incidence of pro-longed air leak, atrial fibrillation and pneumonia) were compared. RESULTS:166 patients were included in this study: 81 patients underwent RATS segmentectomy while 85 underwent VATS segmentectomy. The number of lymph nodes dissected in RATS group was more than in VATS group ?(13.07±5.08) vs (10.81±5.74), P=0.010?. The incidence of some postoperative complications such as pro-longed air leak, atrial fibrillation was not significant different between the two approaches. CONCLUSIONS:Compared with VATS, RATS has similar safety and operability, and the number of lymphadenectomy is significantly more than that of VATS.
Project description:ObjectiveTo optimize surgical outcomes and minimize complications in complex segmentectomy of the left upper lobe, we investigated the topographical anatomy of the left upper lobe and developed a segmentectomy-oriented anatomical model.MethodsA state-of-the-art 3-dimensional computed tomography workstation was used to visualize the intersegmental planes and associated veins to categorize the anatomical patterns influencing surgical procedures during left upper lobe segmentectomy. This included the central vein affecting S1+2 (apicoposterior segment) segmentectomy, the transverse S3 (anterior segment) affecting S3 segmentectomy, and other venous branching patterns in 395 patients who underwent thoracic surgery at our institution.ResultsThe central vein was observed in 32% of the patients, necessitating access from the interlobar area after segmental artery and bronchus division. Transverse S3 incidence was 27%, revealing that only one-third of the patients required complete left upper lobe transection between S4 and S3 during S3 segmentectomy. A significant negative correlation was observed between the presence of transverse S3 and the central vein (<10% of patients with the central vein had transverse S3 and vice versa). In 6% of patients, the lingular segmental veins partially or entirely drained into the inferior pulmonary vein, potentially causing excessive or insufficient resection during surgery.ConclusionsThis study offers valuable insights into the topographic anatomy of the left upper lobe and presents a segmentectomy-oriented anatomical model for complex segmentectomies. Our approach enables a more precise and individualized surgical planning for patients undergoing segmentectomy based on their unique anatomy, which could thereby lead to improved patient outcomes.
Project description:Robotic ventral hernia repair (VHR) has seen rapid adoption, but with limited data assessing clinical outcome or cost. This systematic review compared robotic VHR with laparoscopic and open approaches. This systematic review was undertaken in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched for articles with terms relating to 'robot-assisted', 'cost effectiveness', and 'ventral hernia' or 'incisional hernia' from 1 January 2010 to 10 November 2020. Intraoperative and postoperative outcomes, pain, recurrence, and cost data were extracted for narrative analysis. Of 25 studies that met the inclusion criteria, three were RCTs and 22 observational studies. Robotic VHR was associated with a longer duration of operation than open and laparoscopic repairs, but with fewer transfusions, shorter hospital stay, and lower complication rates than open repair. Robotic VHR was more expensive than laparoscopic repair, but not significantly different from open surgery in terms of cost. There were no significant differences in rates of intraoperative complication, conversion to open surgery, surgical-site infection, readmission, mortality, pain, or recurrence between the three approaches. Robotic VHR was associated with a longer duration of operation, fewer transfusions, a shorter hospital stay, and fewer complications compared with open surgery. Robotic VHR had higher costs and a longer operating time than laparoscopic repair. Randomized or matched data with standardized reporting, long-term outcomes, and cost-effectiveness analyses are still required to weigh the clinical benefits against the cost of robotic VHR.
Project description:ObjectiveTo determine whether robotic ventral hernia repair is associated with fewer days in the hospital 90 days after surgery compared with laparoscopic repair.DesignPragmatic, blinded randomized controlled trial.SettingMultidisciplinary hernia clinics in Houston, USA.Participants124 patients, deemed appropriate candidates for elective minimally invasive ventral hernia repair, consecutively presenting from April 2018 to February 2019.InterventionsRobotic ventral hernia repair (n=65) versus laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (n=59).Main outcome measuresThe primary outcome was number of days in hospital within 90 days after surgery. Secondary outcomes included emergency department visits, operating room time, wound complications, hernia recurrence, reoperation, abdominal wall quality of life, and costs from the healthcare system perspective. Outcomes were pre-specified before data collection began and analyzed as intention to treat.ResultsPatients from both groups were similar at baseline. Ninety day follow-up was completed in 123 (99%) patients. No evidence was seen of a difference in days in hospital between the two groups (median 0 v 0 days; relative rate 0.90, 95% confidence interval 0.37 to 2.19; P=0.82). For secondary outcomes, no differences were noted in emergency department visits, wound complications, hernia recurrence, or reoperation. However, robotic repair had longer operative duration (141 v 77 min; mean difference 62.89, 45.75 to 80.01; P≤0.001) and increased healthcare costs ($15 865 (£12 746; €14 125) v $12 955; cost ratio 1.21, 1.07 to 1.38; adjusted absolute cost difference $2767, $910 to $4626; P=0.004). Among patients with robotic ventral hernia repair, two had an enterotomy compared none with laparoscopic repair. The median one month postoperative improvement in abdominal wall quality of life was 3 with robotic ventral hernia repair compared with 15 following laparoscopic repair.ConclusionThis study found no evidence of a difference in 90 day postoperative hospital days between robotic and laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. However, robotic repair increased operative duration and healthcare costs.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT03490266.
Project description:The left ventral occipito-temporal cortex (LvOT) is thought to be essential for the rapid parallel letter processing that is required for skilled reading. Here we investigate whether rapid written word identification in skilled readers can be supported by neural pathways that do not involve LvOT. Hypotheses were derived from a stroke patient who acquired dyslexia following extensive LvOT damage. The patient followed a reading trajectory typical of that associated with pure alexia, re-gaining the ability to read aloud many words with declining performance as the length of words increased. Using functional MRI and dynamic causal modelling (DCM), we found that, when short (three to five letter) familiar words were read successfully, visual inputs to the patient's occipital cortex were connected to left motor and premotor regions via activity in a central part of the left superior temporal sulcus (STS). The patient analysis therefore implied a left hemisphere "reading-without-LvOT" pathway that involved STS. We then investigated whether the same reading-without-LvOT pathway could be identified in 29 skilled readers and whether there was inter-subject variability in the degree to which skilled reading engaged LvOT. We found that functional connectivity in the reading-without-LvOT pathway was strongest in individuals who had the weakest functional connectivity in the LvOT pathway. This observation validates the findings of our patient's case study. Our findings highlight the contribution of a left hemisphere reading pathway that is activated during the rapid identification of short familiar written words, particularly when LvOT is not involved. Preservation and use of this pathway may explain how patients are still able to read short words accurately when LvOT has been damaged.