07/29/2010 01:15:49 PM EDT -- Robotics & Machine Learning

New lung cancer study results reported from European Institute of Oncology, Division of Thoracic Surgery Lung Cancer

Data detailed in 'Four-arm robotic lobectomy for the treatment of early-stage lung cancer' have been presented. "We investigated the feasibility and safety of four-arm robotic lung lobectomy in patients with lung cancer and described the robotic lobectomy technique with mediastinal lymph node dissection. Over 21 months, 54 patients underwent robotic lobectomy for early-stage lung cancer at our institute," scientists in Milan, Italy report.

"We used a da Vinci Robotic System (Intuitive Surgical, Inc, Mountain View, Calif) with three ports plus one utility incision to isolate hilum elements and perform vascular and bronchial resection using standard endoscopic staplers. Standard mediastinal lymph node dissection was performed subsequently. Surgical outcomes were compared with those in 54 patients who underwent open surgery over the same period and were matched to the robotic group using propensity scores for a series of preoperative variables. Conversion to open surgery was necessary in 7 (13%) cases. Postoperative complications (11/54, 20%, in each group) and median number of lymph nodes removed (17.5 robotic vs 17 open) were similar in the 2 groups. Median robotic operating time decreased by 43 minutes (p=.02) from first tertile (18 patients) to the second-plus-third tertile (36 patients). Median postoperative hospitalization was significantly shorter after robotic (excluding first tertile) than after open operations (4.5 days vs 6 days; p=.002). Robotic lobectomy with lymph node dissection is practicable, safe, and associated with shorter postoperative hospitalization than open surgery. From the number of lymph nodes removed it also appears oncologically acceptable for early lung cancer. Benefits in terms of postoperative pain, respiratory function, and quality of life still require evaluation," wrote G. Veronesi and colleagues, European Institute of Oncology, Division of Thoracic Surgery.

The researchers concluded: "We expect that technologic developments will further simplify the robotic procedure."

Veronesi and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (Four-arm robotic lobectomy for the treatment of early-stage lung cancer. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 2010;140(1):19-25).

For more information, contact G. Veronesi, European Institute of Oncology, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Milan, Italy.

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