Evaluation of Early Results Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery with Multi-Joint Wristed Instruments in Lung Cancer Surgery

Celal Bugra Sezen, Mustafa Vedat Dogru, Gamze Tanrikulu, Semih Erduhan, Yasar Sonmezoglu, Volkan Erdogu, Muzaffer Metin

Background: Our objective in this study is to compare the early outcomes of patients who underwent technical resection of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) with multi-joint wristed instruments, also known as surgeon-powered robotic surgery (SpRS) and conventional VATS. Methods: One hundred twenty-two thoracoscopic lung resections were performed in our hospital for NSCLC between March 2021 and March 2022. Of these resections, 95 were performed with VATS, while 27 patients underwent the SpRS technique. Results: Lobectomy was performed in 112 patients (91.8%), and segmentectomy was performed in 10 patients (8.2%). The median duration of hospitalization was 5 days in patients who underwent VATS, while the median duration of hospitalization was 4 days in patients who underwent the SpRS technique. No significant difference was found between the groups when demographic characteristics were compared with surgical techniques. The median drainage was 125 mL in the SpRS technique, while 150 mL of drainage occurred in patients who underwent resection by VATS (0.165). While an average of 12 lymph nodes was dissected in the VATS group, an average of 14 lymph nodes was dissected in the SpRS group (0.602). Complications occurred in 17 patients (13.9%). Complications were observed at a rate of 16.8% in the VATS group, while complications were observed at a rate of 3.7% in the SpRS group (P = .116). Conclusion: As a result, our study shows that it is an effective and reliable method with early results similar to thoracoscopic surgery. Registration Number: 2022-194.