ObjectiveTo evaluate the feasibility and safety of da Vinci robotic surgery for elderly patients with radical surgery of lung cancer.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 59 patients aged over 70 years who underwent radical surgery of lung cancer in our hospital between 2016 and 2019. These patients were divided into two groups including a da Vinci robot group and a single-utility port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) group according to the patients’ selection of the treatments. There were 32 patients with 20 males and 12 females aged 73.1±2.3 years in the da Vinci robot group and 27 patients with 16 males and 11 females aged 71.2±1.3 years in the VATS group. The clinical data of the two groups were compared.ResultsThere was no statistical difference in surgery time between the two groups (t=–0.341, P=0.484). Compared with the VATS group, the da Vinci robot group had more number of lymph nodes dissected (t=1.635, P=0.015), less intraoperative blood loss (t=–2.569, P <0.001), less postoperative drainage amount within 3 days after surgery (t=–6.325, P=0.045), lower visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at postoperative 3rd day (t=–7.214, P=0.021).ConclusionThe da Vinci robot system is safe and efficient in the treatment for elderly patients with radical surgery of lung cancer with less trauma.