About da Vinci® Surgery
Thoracic (Lung) Surgery
da Vinci® Pulmonary Lobectomy for Lung Cancer
If your doctor recommends surgery to treat early stage non-small cell lung cancer NSCLC, you may be a candidate for da Vinci pulmonary lobectomy, potentially the most effective and least invasive treatment option available.
da Vinci pulmonary lobectomy is an alternative to conventional open thoracotomy surgery - the traditional incision to excise lung cancer. da Vinci pulmonary lobectomy is performed using the da Vinci Surgical System, enabling your surgeon to operate with unparalleled precision and control through a few small incisions.
One of the most common treatments for lung cancer involves the surgical removal of the lobe of the lung, known as pulmonary lobectomy. Traditional thoracotomy and lobectomy require a large, 8-10 inch incision. This open surgery commonly results in substantial blood loss and a lengthy and uncomfortable recovery. If your doctor recommends surgery to treat your lung cancer, you may be a candidate for a new, less-invasive surgical procedure called da Vinci pulmonary lobectomy. This procedure incorporates a state-of-the-art surgical system that helps your surgeon see vital anatomical structures more clearly and to perform a more precise surgical procedure. Our study suggests utilizing the da Vinci System allows 39% of patients to go home within 2 days, 61% within 3 days and 88% in 5days after a pulmonary lobectomy.
In addition to avoiding the pain and trauma of a thoracotomy (cracking and spreading of the ribs, da Vinci Pulmonary Lobectomy may provide patients with the following benefits over open surgery:
- Less risk of infection
- Less blood loss and need for blood transfusions
- Shorter hospital stay
- Significantly less pain and scarring
- Faster recovery
- Quicker return to normal activities
- And a potentially better clinical outcome
As with any surgery, these benefits cannot be guaranteed, as surgery is both patient and procedure-specific. While da Vinci Pulmonary Lobectomy is considered safe and effective, it may not be appropriate for every individual. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.
da Vinci® Pulmonary Segmentectomy for Lung Cancer
The surgical excision of a segment of a pulmonary lobe. This technique is commonly used in patients with compromised pulmonary reserve or those individuals unable to tolerate a lobectomy. da Vinci pulmonary segmentectomy maintains the minimal invasive approach to the individual division of the corresponding bronchovascular structures.
da Vinci ® Wedge Resection
Mediastinal Disease
da Vinci® Mediastinal Mass Resection (Anterior and Posterior)
- Minimal invasive excision of lymph nodes for staging and diagnosis
- Robotic excision of masses in the anterior and posterior compartments of the mediastinum
da Vinci® Thymectomy - Myasthenia gravis (MG)
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic disease that affects neuromuscular transmission resulting in debilitating muscle weakness. The thymus is a lymphoid organ located in the anterior mediastinum, behind the sternum. The thymus, early in life, is responsible for the development of the immune system. The thymus is composed predominantly of epithelial cells and lymphocytes. Precursor cells migrate to the thymus and differentiate into lymphocytes. T-cell lymphocytes stimulate the production of antibodies whose job it is to recognize and fight off foreign invaders called antigens, which enter our body.
The basic problem that produces MG is a condition that involves a blockade of muscle (acetylcholine) receptors. The damage to the receptors and impaired neuromuscular transmission leads to symptoms of weakness and fatigue. In the United States, approximately 14 in 100,000 people are diagnosed with MG. However, myasthenia gravis is thought to be under diagnosed and the prevalence is probably higher.
For those suffering from MG, there are several methods of treatment, of which one is surgery. This involves the removal of the thymus gland, a procedure called, a thymectomy. There are two commonly used approaches for a thymectomy - the transcervical and the transsternal approach. The transcervical incision requires the surgeon to make an incision through the neck. While the transsternal incision involves making a long "Y" shaped incision between the chest and the breastbone. Both of these options require fairly invasive incisions.
Thymoma is the most common neoplasm of the anterior mediastinum. There is no clear histological distinction between benign and malignant thymomas. Determination of malignancy is by the invasiveness of the thymoma. Malignant thymomas can invade the vasculature, lymphatics, and adjacent structures within the mediastinum. A relationship between myasthenia gravis (MG) and thymomas exists. Approximately, 30-40% of patients who have a thymoma experience symptoms suggestive of MG.
If your doctor recommends surgical repair, you may be a candidate for a new, less invasive surgical procedure called da Vinci Thymectomy. This procedure uses a state-of-the-art surgical system designed to help your surgeon see vital anatomical structures more clearly and to perform a more precise operation.
For most patients, da Vinci Thymectomy offers numerous potential benefits over traditional open-chest surgery, including:
- Shorter hospital stay
- Less pain and scarring
- Less risk of infection
- Less blood loss and fewer transfusions
- Faster recovery
- Quicker return to normal activities