Robotic-Assisted Surgery for the Chest and Lung
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- Robotic-Assisted Surgery for the Chest and Lung
If your doctor recommends surgery for a condition affecting your chest, lungs or esophagus, you may be a candidate for robotic-assisted surgery. This form of surgery is performed through a few small incisions between your ribs, rather than making a long incision through the chest wall.
For patients with non-small cell lung cancer, for example, robotic-assisted surgery can be performed to remove parts of the lung. This procedure is called a lobectomy.
A thin tube with a camera provides a high-resolution, 3D image inside the chest cavity. The surgeon uses handheld controls to manipulate robotic arms that hold special surgical instruments. Unlike a human hand, the robotic “wrists” can rotate 360 degrees and move in very tiny increments. This allows the surgeon:
- Greater surgical precision
- Increased range of motion
- Enhanced views, including areas that may not be seen by the naked eye
- Improved access to hard-to-reach areas
- Improved ability to spare healthy tissue not impacted by cancer
Robotic-assisted surgery of the chest cavity offers patients potential benefits over traditional approaches, including:
- Fewer complications
- Less pain
- Minimized scar tissue
- Reduced blood loss and need for transfusions
- Reduced muscle and tissue damage
- Shorter hospital stay
- Quicker recovery and return to normal activities
At Mercy we have the skilled surgeons and the advanced technology to handle the most complex surgeries. Our goal is to get and keep you healthy so you can get back to doing all the things you love.