ObjectiveTo compare the effect of da Vinci Surgical System and video-assisted mini-thoractomy (VAMT) on postoperative pain of patients with lungs or mediastinal tumor. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 88 patients with lung or mediastinal tumor who underwent surgical treatment in our hospital from January 2015 through April 2015. The patients were divided into two groups including a robot group and a VAMT group. There were 49 patients in the robot group with 23 males and 26 females at age of 55.14±13.03 years and 39 patients with 23 males and 16 females at age of 56.92±8.98 years in the VAMT group. ResultsCompared with the VAMT group, shorter operation time (t=-2.298, P=0.024) and shorter time of drainage (t=-2.421, P=0.018) were found in the robot group with statistical differences. There was a statistical difference in visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of postoperative 24 hours between the robot group and the VAMT group (1.00±0.74 vs. 2.33±1.64, t=-4.704, P=0.000). While no statistical difference was found in VAS scores of postoperative 48 hours (t=-0.244, P=0.808) between the two groups. ConclusionCompared with VAMT, da Vinci Surgical System can be used in the treatment of lung and mediastinal tumor with shorter operation time, shorter time of drainage, less pain, and less invasiveness.
Objective To summary the early experience of Dixon procedures with Da Vinci robotics surgical system for rectal cancer. Methods Eleven patients with rectal cancer underwent the combination of laparoscope and Da Vinci robotics surgical system with 4 trocars in our hospital from May. 2011 to Jan. 2012. Laparoscopy was firstly used to identify the possibility of the surgical procedure， then placed the 4 trocars， and maked sure the suspension of the sigmoid colon and the uterus. Transections of rectum were performed by a conventional laparoscopic method， and endoscopic separations were performed by Da Vinci robotics surgical system. The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed and the experience was summarized. Results The Da Vinci robotics-assisted Dixon procedures were successfully performed in 11 patients and no one turned to laparotomy. The operating time was 210-330min （mean 288.6min）；the blood loss was 20-100ml （mean 40ml）； The number of lymph nodes dissected was 12-21 per case （mean 13.9 per case）；the duration of bowel movement and hospital stay were 18-26h （mean 22h） and 7-16d （mean 11.5d）， respectively. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications related to the use of robotics， and no residual cancer cells at resection margin. Conclusions Da Vinci robotics-assisted Dixion procedure with 4 trocars and suspension of sigmoid colon are safe and feasible， and it is beneficial to the recovery of patients
Objective To summarize our initial experience in robot-assisted lobectomy for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC）. Methods A total of 20 NSCLC patients underwent robot-assisted pulmonary lobectomy in General Hospital of Shenyang Military Command from March to September 2012. There were 13 males and 7 females, and their age was 43-80 （60.40±8.07） years. Single-direction thoracoscopic lobectomy technique was used，and systemic mediastinal and hilar lymph node dissection was routinely performed during the operation. There were 4 right upper lobectomies，7 right lower lobectomies，1 right middle lobectomy，7 left lower lobectomies，and 1 left upper lobectomy. Results Postoperative pathological examination showed adenocarcinoma in 12 patients，squamous cell carcinoma in 5 patients，adenosquamous carcinoma in 2 patients，and mucoepidermoid carcinoma in 1 patient. One patient undergoing left upper lobectomy had intraoperative pulmonary artery bleeding of 500 ml，who was healed by pulmonary artery repair via an accessory small incision and blood transfusion of 400 ml. All the other 19 patients successfully underwent robot-assisted lobectomy with their mean intraoperative blood loss of 60.00±42.95 （10-200） ml, and no blood transfusion was needed for them. All the patients were successfully extubated after operation, and none of the patients had severe postoperative complication. The mean thoracic drainage time was 9.35±3.48 （3-15） days. All the patients were discharged uneventfully and followed up for 2-9 （6.01±2.09） months without recurrence or metastasis. Conclusions Robot-assisted pulmonary lobectomy using Da Vinci S Surgical System is safe and feasible，and especially advantageous for lymph node dissection. It can be used for the treatment of early stage NSCLC.
Objective To investigate application values and techniques of robot-assisted extended thymectomy for the treatment of typeⅠmyasthenia gravis （MG） using Da Vinci S system. Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 3 patients with MG who underwent robot-assisted extended thymectomy in General Hospital of Shenyang Military Command from March 2012 to September 2012. All the patients were ocular MG （typeⅠ） including 2 men （33 years and 66 years old respectively） and 1 woman （21 years old）. Surgical outcomes were analyzed. Results All the 3 patients successfully received robot-assisted extended thymectomy without accessorial incisions. None of the patients required converting to open sternotomy or postoperative reexploration for bleeding. Intraoperative blood loss was 5-10 ml．Overall operation time was95-138 minutes, and thymoma dissection time was 26-80 minutes. No myasthenic crisis or other major postoperative complic-ation occurred. Postoperative chest drainage duration was 3-9 days and postoperative hospital stay was 10-15 days. Two patientswere followed up for 6-12 months after discharge without MG recurrence. Conclusion Robot-assisted extended thymectomy is safe and feasible for the treatment of typeⅠMG with satisfactory results．
Objective To review the progress of the robotic applications in vascular surgery. Methods Recent literature about the robotic applications in vascular surgery was reviewed and analyzed. Results Robotic system is composed of surgery robotic system and endovascular interventional robotic system. The time of aortic clamping and anastomosis is reduced considerably during the robotic-assisted aorta bypass surgery, and the dissection of aorta is completed successfully in totally robotic approach. Endovascular interventional robotic system has good performance in navigation and stability, and shows apparent advantages in passing special anatomical segment and complicated lesion. However, the robotic systems are still limited in application for high cost. The problem of tactile feedback should also be solved quickly. Conclusion Robotic systems have apparent advantages and good prospect in vascular surgery. Nevertheless, it still require many clinical trials to formulate the indication and contraindication, to establish standard procedure, to assess the long-term effectiveness of the robotic systems and so on.
Objective To summarize the clinical experience of da Vinci surgical system in treatment for senile patients with severe obstructive jaundice．Methods From January 2009 to May 2011, 209 patients with hepatopancreatobiliary （HPB） diseases underwent robotic surgeries by using da Vinci surgical system. Forty-seven senile patients with severe obstructive jaundice were selected for robotic surgery （robot group） and 44 for open surgery（open group）.The distribution of disease, pro-, intra-, and post-operative data in the two groups were analyzed. Results Baseline of two groups was same. A total of 46 patients had underwent total robotic surgeries （97.87%，46/47） and 1 patient converted to hand-assisted procedure （2.13%，1/47）. Surgeries included all HPB difficult surgical procedures, also including 1 case of hilar cholangiocarcinoma patient who had high level serum bilirubin （375μmol/L）and underwent emergency resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma and portal-jejunal Roux-en-Y anastomosis． Postoperative complications occurred in 7 cases （14.89%, 7/47） and 1 case died （2.13%, 1/47） . Three-month survival rate was 78.15%. Fifteen-day and 3-month after surgery, physical strength score was 42.87±18.61 and 58.51±23.86, respectively. The total length of abdominal incision was （6.30±1.70） cm. All the patients in the open group completed surgery, including emergency operation in 4 cases. Postoperative complications occurred in 13 cases （29.55%, 13/44） and 2 cases died （4.55%, 2/44）.Three-month survival rate was 72.36%. Fifteen-day and 3-month after surgery, physical strength score was 37.15±13.64 and 45.27±18.96, respectively. The total length of abdominal incision was （26.73±3.07） cm. There were significant differences of postoperative complications, postoperative 15-day and 3-month physical strength score, and incision length between two groups（P＜0.05）. Conclusions da Vinci surgical system is safe and effective in treatment for senile patients with severe obstructive jaundice.
Objective?To approach feasibility, safety, and the application range of pure laparoscopic resection （PLR）, hand-assisted laparoscopic resection （HALR）, and robotic liver resection （RLR） in the minimally invasive liver resection （MILR）. Methods?The clinical data of 128 patients underwent MILR in the Surgical Department of the Shanghai Ruijin Hospital from September 2004 to January 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. According to the different methods, the patients were divided into PLR group, HALR group, and RLR group. The intraoperative findings and postoperative recovery of patients in three groups were compared.?Results?There were 82 cases in PLR group, 3 cases of which were transferred to open surgery；the mean operating time was （145.4±54.4） minutes （range：40-290 minutes）；the mean blood loss was （249.3±255.7） ml （range：30-1 500 ml）；abdominal infection was found in 3 cases and biliary fistula in 5 cases after operation, but all recovered after conservative treatment；the mean length of hospital stay was （7.1±3.8） days （range：2-34 days）. There were 35 cases in HALR group, 3 cases of which were transferred to open surgery；the mean operating time was （182.7±59.2） minutes （range：60-300 minutes）；the mean blood loss was （754.3±785.2） ml （range：50-3 000 ml）；abdominal infection was found in 1 case, biliary fistula in 2 cases, and operative incision infection in 2 cases after operation, but all recovered after conservative treatment；the mean length of hospital stay was （15.4±3.7） days （range：12-30 days）. There were 11 cases in RLR group, 2 cases of which were transferred to open surgery； the mean operating time was （129.5±33.5） minutes （range：120-200 minutes）； the mean blood loss was （424.5±657.5） ml （range：50-5 000 ml）； abdominal infection was found in 1 case and biliary fistula in 1 case after operation, but all recovered after conservative treatment； the mean length of hospital stay was （6.4±1.6） days （range：5-9 days）. The operating time （P=0.001） and length of hospital stay （P=0.000） of the RLR group were shortest and the blood loss （P=0.000） of the PLR group was least among three groups. Conclusions?Minimally invasive resection is a safe and feasible. Different surgical procedures should be chosen according to different cases. The robotic liver resection provides new development for treatment of liver tumor.
Objective To discuss the effect and prognosis of the Da Vinci surgical system assisted surgical treatment for complex hepatolithiasis. Methods The clinical data of 15 patients with complex calculus of intraheoatic duct who accepted surgical therapy at General Hospital of the Second Artillery Corps of PLA from January 2009 to August 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. Results All operations of 15 patients were performed successfully, no case of converting to laparotomy， no injury of the important blood vessels and organs in surgical procedures. Postoperative complications occurred in 4 cases （26.7%）. Among them, there were 1 case （6.7%） of hemobilia, 1 case （6.7%） of lung infection, 2 cases （13.3%） of liver surface bleeding, and no case of death and liver failure occurred during the perioperative period. All patients （100%） had follow-up visited with a median time of 11 months （ranging from 3 months to 2 years）, 12 cases （80.0%） acquired good curative effect, 3 cases （20.0%） of residual stones were found, 1 case （6.7%） of recurrence stones were found. Conclusion There are enormous potential for Da Vinci surgical system assisted surgical treatment of complex hepatolithiasis, which can be used in elderly patients，and patients with multiple surgical history, poor liver function, acute cholangitis, and so on.