RATS thymectomy safe and effective for large thymic epithelial tumors

A total of 113 patients with large thymic epithelial tumors who underwent minimally invasive surgery were included. Sixty-three patients underwent RATS, and 50 patients underwent VATS. Patient characteristics and perioperative variables were compared.

Results

Compared with the VATS group, the RATS group experienced a shorter operation time (median: 110 min vs.130 min; P < 0.001) and less blood loss (30.00 ml vs. 100.00 ml, P < 0.001). No patients in the RATS group needed conversion to open surgery, but in the VATS series, five patients required conversion to open procedures (0% vs. 14.29%, P = 0.054). The rate of concomitant resection in the RATS group was similar to that in the VATS group (11.43% vs. 5.71%; P = 0.673). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the duration of chest tube (P = 0.587), postoperative complications (P = 1.000), and the duration of postoperative hospital stay (P = 0.141).

For large thymic epithelial tumors, RATS thymectomy can be performed safely and effectively in a radical fashion. Due to the advanced optics and precise instrument control, concomitant resections can be easily achieved in larger thymic epithelial tumors using the robotic approach.

Reference:

Zhu, Lf., Zhang, Lm., Zuo, Cj. et al. Robot versus video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy for large thymic epithelial tumors: a propensity-matched analysis. BMC Surg 23, 330 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12893-023-02228-8

Keywords:

RATS, thymectomy, safe, effective, large, thymic, epithelial, tumors, BMC Surgery, Zhu, Lf., Zhang, Lm., Zuo, Cj