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Robotic Thymectomy: An Update

  • Robotic Surgery (E Berber, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

In the last two decades, minimally invasive approaches for thoracic surgery have become widely adopted. Open thymectomy was previously considered the gold standard; however, minimally invasive techniques including robotic approaches are becoming routine for a variety of pathologies. We review the robotic techniques and approaches to thymectomy currently being performed as well as novel approaches in development.

Recent Findings

Robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) has been developed to increase the accessibility of minimally invasive surgery. Better flexibility and transmission and the surgeon’s convenient maneuverability in the thoracic cavity are some of the advantages, effectively combining the benefits of minimally invasive techniques with the effectiveness of an open procedure.

Summary

Robotic approaches to thymectomy are feasible and safe operations for a variety of benign and malignant pathologies. There is reduced blood loss, chest tube duration, and hospital length of stay without significant differences in perioperative complications, thymoma recurrence, and 5-year survival. Advances continue to be made in the field with the development of newer platforms including single-site and single-port systems, which continue to be increasingly adopted by thoracic surgeons.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Thoracic and Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA

    Mujtaba Mubashir, Rachel E. NeMoyer & Siva Raja

Authors
  1. Mujtaba Mubashir
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  2. Rachel E. NeMoyer
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  3. Siva Raja
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Correspondence to Siva Raja.

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Mubashir, M., NeMoyer, R.E. & Raja, S. Robotic Thymectomy: An Update. Curr Surg Rep 10, 140–147 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40137-022-00323-y

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