Robotic Lobectomy without Complete Fissure for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Technical Aspects and Perioperative Outcomes of the Tunnel Technique

Even though the use of the “fissure-last” technique in mini-invasive lobectomy with the fissureless condition is well accepted, in terms of perioperative outcomes, controversies still surround the hilar lymph node dissection. In this article, we reported a description of the robotic “tunnel technique” approach in the right upper lobectomy in the absence of a defined fissure. We then compared the short terms outcomes of 30 consecutive cases treated using this technique, with 30 patients treated using the “fissure last” VATS approach in the same institution, before the start of the robotic surgery program.