Influence of pleural invasion on survival in pathologic T3-4N0M0 non-small cell lung cancer: a propensity score matching study based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database.

Background: Pleural invasion (PI) is considered to be an adverse prognostic factor in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the prognostic roles of PI in pathologic (p)T3-4N0M0 NSCLC remain controversial. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of PI in patients with pT3-4N0M0 NSCLC.

Effect of laterality on the postoperative survival of non-small cell lung cancer patients undergoing pneumonectomy.

Background: Pneumonectomy is one of the important surgical methods for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study evaluated the effects of laterality on the short- and long-term survival of NSCLC patients undergoing pneumonectomy.

Methods: We reviewed the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database to retrieve the data of patients who underwent pneumonectomy for stage I-III NSCLC from 2004 to 2015.

Robotic-assisted extended thymectomy for large resectable thymoma: 21 years' experience.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the perioperative and midterm oncological outcomes of robotic-assisted thoracic surgery extended thymectomy for patients with large resectable thymomas compared with small thymomas.

Methods: This retrospective single-center study included 204 patients with thymomas who underwent robotic-assisted thoracic surgery extended thymectomy between January 2003 and February 2024. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the thymoma size (5-cm threshold).

Do skip-N2 metastases significantly impact overall survival and disease-free interval in N2 non-small-cell lung cancer patients? A multicentre analysis.

Objectives: Skip-N2 metastasis (N0N2), thus N2 metastasis in the absence of N1 metastasis, occurs in ∼20-30% of non-small-cell lung cancer patients. N0N2 patients have a better prognosis than continuous-N2 metastasis (N1N2) patients following surgery. However, this effect remains controversial.

Prediction of the generalization of myasthenia gravis with purely ocular symptoms at onset: a multivariable model development and validation.

Background: About half of myasthenia gravis (MG) patients with purely ocular symptoms at onset progress to generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG).

Objectives: To develop and validate a model to predict the generalization of MG at 6 months after disease onset in patients with ocular-onset myasthenia gravis (OoMG).

Methods: Data of patients with OoMG were retrospectively collected from two tertiary hospitals in Germany and China.

Outcomes of Juvenile Myasthenia Gravis: A Comparison of Robotic Thymectomy With Medication Treatment.

Background: The study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of patients with juvenile myasthenia gravis (MG) who underwent robotic thymectomy with that of those who only received medication therapy.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who visited our institution for the diagnosis or treatment of MG with an age at onset younger than 18 years. Patients who underwent thymectomy comprised the surgical group and those who received only medication therapy comprised the nonsurgical group.

Robotic-Extended Rethymectomy for Refractory Myasthenia Gravis: A Case Series.

To assess the safety and efficacy of robotic-extended rethymectomy in selected refractory myasthenia gravis (MG) patients with suspected residual thymic tissue. Robotic-extended rethymectomy was performed in 6 MG patients with seropositive acetylcholine receptors (AChR) antibody who had undergone a previous thymectomy (1 cervicotomy, 2 video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries, and 3 sternotomies). The median observation time before robotic rethymectomy was 108 (24-171) months.

Surgical Techniques for Myasthenia Gravis: Robotic-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery.

Robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) creates an extended approach for thymectomy in terms of locating contralateral phrenic nerve and upper poles of the thymus. RATS thymectomy is indicated in all non-thymomatous myasthenia gravis (MG) patients and thymomatous MG patients with resectable thymoma, typically Masaoka-Koga I and II. Left-sided RATS thymectomy is superior for anatomic reasons and in the special care patients with MG.

Results of Robotic Thymectomy Performed in Myasthenia Gravis Patients Older Than 60 Years at Onset.

Background: Data are limited on the safety and efficacy of robotic thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) older than 60 years at onset.

Methods: Patients older than 60 years at MG onset who underwent robotic thymectomy in Charite Universitaetsmedizin Berlin between 2003 and 2017 were potentially eligible for inclusion. The main outcomes were perioperative complications and clinical outcome according to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America Post-Intervention Status.

Uniportal triportal video-assisted thoracic surgery in the treatment of primary pneumothorax-a propensity matched bicentric study.

Background: The role of triportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is widely recognized for the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP). The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness and the potential advantages of uniportal VATS (U-VATS) for the treatment of PSP compared with triportal VATS.

Methods: A total of 104 triportal (n=39) and uniportal (n=65) VATS procedures where performed for the treatment of PSP in two University hospitals.

Uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery in the treatment of pleural empyema.

Background: The efficacy of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in the treatment of pleural empyema has recently been proven. Till today, very few works evaluated the role of uniportal-VATS (U-VATS) approach in the treatment of pleural empyema even if it currently represents the most innovative and less invasive thoracoscopic approach. We report our experience with U-VATS in the treatment of pleural empyema.

Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopy major lung resections after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Background: The combination of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery in lung cancer therapy is well established. The role of uniportal video assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) is still not described in literature. This study presents the preliminary short-term results of uniportal VATS after neoadjuvant therapy in our series.

Lymph node upstaging for non-small cell lung cancer after uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopy.

Background: Radical lymph node dissection (LND) plays a major role in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study presents the analysis of the results after uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) lymphadenectomy during anatomical lung resections for NSCLC, focusing on pathological nodal upstaging. Any possible risk factor affecting nodal upstaging was also investigated.

Outcomes from the Delphi process of the Thoracic Robotic Curriculum Development Committee.

Objectives: As the adoption of robotic procedures becomes more widespread, additional risk related to the learning curve can be expected. This article reports the results of a Delphi process to define procedures to optimize robotic training of thoracic surgeons and to promote safe performance of established robotic interventions as, for example, lung cancer and thymoma surgery.

Methods: In June 2016, a working panel was spontaneously created by members of the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) and European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) with a specialist interest in robotic thoracic surgery and/or surgical training.

Report on First International Workshop on Robotic Surgery in Thoracic Oncology.

A workshop of experts from France, Germany, Italy, and the United States took place at Humanitas Research Hospital Milan, Italy, on February 10 and 11, 2016, to examine techniques for and applications of robotic surgery to thoracic oncology. The main topics of presentation and discussion were robotic surgery for lung resection; robot-assisted thymectomy; minimally invasive surgery for esophageal cancer; new developments in computer-assisted surgery and medical applications of robots; the challenge of costs; and future clinical research in robotic thoracic surgery. The following article summarizes the main contributions to the workshop.

Robot-aided thoracoscopic thymectomy for early-stage thymoma: a multicenter European study.

Objective: Minimally invasive thymectomy for stage I to stage II thymoma has been suggested in recent years and considered technically feasible. However, because of the lack of data on long-term results, controversies still exist on surgical access indication. We sought to evaluate the results after robot-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy in early-stage thymoma.

Comparison of free breathing versus breath-hold in perfusion imaging using dynamic volume CT.

Objectives: To compare two scanning protocols (free breathing versus breath-hold) for perfusion imaging using dynamic volume computed tomography (CT) and to evaluate their effects on image registration.

Material And Methods: Forty patients underwent dynamic volume CT for pancreatic perfusion analysis and were randomly assigned to either a shallow-breathing (I) or breath-hold (II) group. Both dynamic CT protocols consisted of 17 low-dose volumetric scans.

Robotic-assisted laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery with the da Vinci system: a 4-year experience in a single institution.

Purpose: We set up a pilot study to evaluate the efficacy of telerobotic surgery using the da Vinci system for several procedures for which traditional laparoscopy (or thoracoscopy) is a standard approach in a single institution.

Methods: We performed fundoplications (hiatal hernia repair and antireflux surgery, n=112), upside-down stomach (14), cholecystectomy (16), gastric banding (3), colectomy (5), esophagectomy (4), sub/total gastrectomy (2), gastrojejunostomy (2), along with thymectomy (100), thoracic symatectomy (11), lobectomy (5), mediastinal parathyroidectomy (5), and left pancreatic resection (1).

Results: The median set up time for all procedures was reduced from 25.

Computer-assisted laparoscopic repair of "upside-down" stomach with the Da Vinci system.

Recently introduced telerobotic surgical systems attempt to elude the inherent limitations of traditional laparoscopic surgery. Four patients (3 male, 1 female) with mixed hiatal and paraesophageal hernias with fixed intrathoracic partial or complete displacement of the stomach were operatively treated using the Da Vinci robotic system. Tissue dissection, hiatoplasty, and anterior hemifundoplication (Dor) were performed with the telerobotic system.

Computer-assisted laparoscopic colon resection with the Da Vinci system: our first experiences.

Purpose: Telerobotic surgery is a developing and promising modality that highly improves the laparoscopic dexterity. We have performed more than 100 laparoscopic and thoracoscopic procedures since December 2002 with the aid of the Da Vinci robotic system. This study was designed to assess the value of robots in colonic laparoscopic surgery.