Robotic surgery was developed in response to the limitations and drawbacks of laparoscopic surgery. Since 1997 when the first robotic procedure was performed various papers pointed the advantages of robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery, this technique is now a reality and it will probably become the surgery of the future.
The most favorable advantage of robotic surgery is three-dimension vision, camera stability, endo-wristed instruments and the self-assisted 3rd robotic arm. Accurate operation makes complex procedures straightforward, and may overcome weak points of the previous thoracoscopic surgery.. However, the spread of robotic surgery in the general thoracic surgery field has been delayed compared to those in other fields. Robotic-assisted surgery is not widely accepted for general thoracic surgical procedures, and the technical advantages, cost effectiveness, and patient benefit are in question. Few reports have been published to date regarding clinical experience with this technology. We describe our initial experience with robotic-assisted thoracic surgery and we found robotic assisted thoracic surgery is safe and feasible. |
