A Brazilian randomized study: Robotic-Assisted vs. Video-assisted lung lobectomy Outcomes (BRAVO trial).

Objective: To compare 90-day morbidity in patients undergoing lung lobectomy performed by either robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) or video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Intraoperative complications, drainage time, length of hospital stay, postoperative pain, postoperative quality of life, and readmissions within 90 days were also compared.

Methods: This was a two-arm randomized clinical trial including patients with lung lesions (primary lung cancer or lung metastasis) who were candidates for lung lobectomy.

Quality of life outcomes after minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum utilizing a new set of metallic bars and stabilizers.

Background/purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the postoperative quality of life (QoL) of patients who underwent minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE) with a newly designed bar and bar stabilizers.

Methods: We conducted a prospective randomized study in which patients were operated either with standard perpendicular stabilizers (control group) or with the newly designed oblique stabilizers (intervention group). All patients were evaluated 6 months after the operation with the Pectus Excavatum Evaluation Questionnaire (PEEQ).

Building a Large Robotic Thoracic Surgery Program in an Emerging Country: Experience in Brazil.

Background: In the last decade, robotic video-assisted thoracic surgery (R-VATS) has grown significantly and consolidated as an alternative to video-assisted thoracic surgery. The objective of this study is to present the implementation as well as the experience with R-VATS accumulated by 2 Brazilian groups. We also compared the outcomes of procedures performed during the learning curve and after a more mature experience.