“In robotic thoracic surgery we use very small incisions, about the size of a fingernail, rather than the traditional open surgery,” says Leonid Emerel, MD, a thoracic surgeon on the Medical Staff of Penn Medicine Princeton Health. “Because the incisions are so small, the patient spends less time in the hospital, recovers quicker, and experiences less pain during recovery. And because there is less pain, they breathe better, which means there is less chance of developing pneumonia.”
Following robotic thoracic surgery, usually a three- to five-day hospital stay is needed, with full recovery from the procedure taking between three and four weeks in most patients.
“Every patient is unique, and while every patient who is a candidate for robotic thoracic surgery will benefit from it, the main goal of any operation, especially for cancer reasons, is to perform it safely with the best possible outcomes,” says Dr. Emerel.
A Safe and Precise Process
The instruments used in robotic procedures are specially designed to mimic the natural movements of the surgeon’s hands and, therefore, allow for precise and meticulous operating.
“Often people imagine a robotic procedure involving a clunky mechanical process, where an automated robot is performing the procedure,” says Dr. Emerel. “That is definitely not what is involved. The surgeon is using fine, robotic instruments to precisely and safely perform the procedure.”
Overall, the use of surgical robotics has allowed surgeons to offer less invasive options for the treatment of a multitude of thoracic conditions and reduce patients’ pain and shorten their hospital stays, thus improving patient experiences and outcomes.