Can the da Vinci robotic system be alternative to open surgery for schwannoma in posterior mediastinum?

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: In the present study, the outcomes and technical details of patients who underwent surgical resection for benign schwannoma with the da Vinci robotic system are presented. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the scope of our robotic surgery program, 26 (8.7%) patients out of 296 patients were operated using the da Vinci robotic system. Five patients (19.2%) who underwent surgery of benign schwannoma were included in the study. Prospectively, collected data of these patients were retrospectively evaluated. Age, gender, robot docking and console times, length of hospital stay, anatomic localizations of the lesions, pathology results, blood infusion needs, and mortality and morbidity rates of the patients were recorded. RESULTS: All patients were male, and the mean age was 43.2 +/- 12.1 years. The mean length of hospital stay was 3 +/- 0.9 days. The mean console time was 27.6 +/- 18.8 min, and the mean docking time was 12 +/- 4 min. None of the patients received blood transfusion. Utility incision was made in only one patient. Postoperative ptosis was detected in two patients with tumors where located in the apical region, and no mortality occurred. CONCLUSION: Due to the advantages of robotic surgery to the surgeon, patients with schwannoma in extreme locations that would pose challenges in dissection could be operated with da Vinci system.