Thoracic redo-robotic surgery (TRRS): a case series of a single centre

BACKGROUND: Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery has been shown as a safe and feasible surgical procedure to treat a broad range of thoracic malignancies with a shorten hospital stay, a quicker return to normal daily activities and superior quality of life compared to open approach. Nonetheless, its utilization has predominantly been restricted to the average surgical intervention. In the latest years, given the technological improvements and the advanced skills of the “robotic” surgeons, this approach has been applied to more complex and challenging procedures (e.g., advanced stages/ after neoadjuvant therapies). The aim of this study is to show the results and the advantages of redo thoracic procedures performed with a robot-assisted approach. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database (2017–2019). We analysed the first case series undergoing robotic approach (totally endoscopic) in patients who underwent previous surgery and/or radiotherapy for thoracic malignancies. RESULTS: Nine patients (M/F =5/4) with a median age of 73 years underwent robotic procedures after previous radical surgery (n=6) or radiation therapy treatment (n=3). The mean time interval between the two interventions was 96.12 months (range, 7–444 months). The conversion rate was 0%. No postoperative death occurred. Only one complication arose (air leaking) treated conservatively. The median length of stay and chest tube duration were 5 days (range, 4–10 days) and 2 days (range, 2–5 days). The 30-, 60- and 90-day mortality was 0%. With a median follow-up of 10 months (range, 2–12 months), all patients are currently alive, disease free, and with an overall survival and a disease-free survival of 10 months. CONCLUSIONS: The robotic surgery is a safe and feasible approach in case of redo-robotic surgery, showing good outcomes, permitting a fast return to full daily activity, and enabling the patients to rapidly undergo adjuvant treatments, when required.