Surgery has remained the cornerstone of lung cancer therapy. Sleeve lobectomy, which is featured by not only the maximal resection of tumors but also the maximal preservation of functional lung parenchyma, has been proved to be a valid therapeutic option for the treatment of some centrally located lung cancer . Evidence points toward equivalent oncologic outcomes with improved survival and quality of life after sleeve resections compared with pneumonectomy. However, the postoperative morbidities and the long-term results after sleeve lobectomy remain controversial, especially in relation to nodal involvement and after induction therapy. With the development of technology, minimally invasive procedures have been performed more and more widely.
ObjectiveThrough the perioperative outcome analysis of da Vinci robot-assisted sleeve lobectomy, to clarify its efficacy and safety.MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed on 10 patients with centrally located lung cancer undergoing robot-assisted sleeve lobectomy from March to December 2019 in our center, including 9 males and 1 female, aged 45-67 (55.0±8.9) years. Preoperative imaging and bronchoscopy showed central non-small cell lung cancer, involving the right upper lung in 3 patients, right lower lung in 2 patients, the left upper lung in 4 patients, and left lower lung in 1 patient. The operation time, Docking time, intraoperative blood loss volume, bronchial anastomosis time, number of dissected lymph nodes, drainage volume and postoperative hospital stay were analyzed.ResultsThe da Vinci robot-assisted bronchial sleeve lobectomy was completed smoothly on 10 patients. The operation time was 135-183 (157.8±14.3) min, Docking time 6-15 (10.0±2.9) min, intraoperative blood loss volume 55-250 (124.5±61.8) mL, bronchial anastomosis time 17-40 (27.7±7.3) min, the number of dissected lymph nodes 16-23 (19.7±2.8), the drainage volume 200-600 (348.0±148.4) mL and postoperative hospital stay 7-11 (8.7±1.6) d. All patients had no bronchopleural fistula, pulmonary infection or atelectasis, and there was no perioperative death. Postoperative pathological findings were all squamous cell carcinoma.ConclusionDa Vinci robot-assisted sleeve lobectomy is safe and effective.