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The development in thoracic surgery is called Robotic Assisted Thoracic Surgery (RATS) and concerns robotically assisted operations on the chest. This is a method that is relatively widespread worldwide. However, in our country it is applied by a surprisingly limited number of thoracic surgeons, as it is a technique that requires special qualifications and special training.

Our team at the Cardiothoracic Surgery Clinic at the Interbalkan Medical Center of Thessaloniki has been certified by the competent company for the ability to perform thoracic surgeries with the DaVinci robotic system.

Robotics is therefore coming to leave its mark in thoracic surgery, gaining ground in recent years, with applications across the full range of thoracic surgeries, for both benign and malignant diseases.

Pulmonary parenchymal resections, thymectomies, removal of mediastinal tumors, biopsies of intrathoracic masses, drainage of collections, pleurodesis, pneumothorax are indicative of some of the surgeries performed with robotic technology.

Benefits for the surgeon and the patient

Robotic thoracic surgery is the most modern development of minimally invasive thoracic surgery, with significant benefits for the surgeon and the patient. The surgeon gains greater flexibility of movement and can perform delicate manipulations, while the patient experiences a clearly easier surgery, with all that this entails for his recovery.

The benefits are multiple and include:

• Greater precision during the operation.
• Three-dimensional visualization of the surgical field and with high definition
• Performing the surgery through small holes
• Ability to move and rotate the tools 360 degrees due to the ergonomics of the robotic tools that can move in three dimensions and at angles greater than those of the human hand.
• Minimal postoperative pain (there is clearly less pressure on the intercostal spaces compared to classic thoracoscopic methods).
• Minimal blood loss.
• Faster recovery.
• Reduction of complications both during surgery and postoperatively.
• Less preoperative anxiety for patients, especially for those who have a greater fear of surgery.
• Shorter hospitalization time with immediate financial benefit for both the patient and the health system of our country.
• Better aesthetic result, thanks to the absence of large incisions.

Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery offers all the benefits of minimally invasive surgery and also a greater range of flexibility in simple or complex procedures. It also allows all the limitations of the classical thoracoscopic technique to be overcome, providing easy access to all anatomical elements, resulting in more precise and safer surgical treatment.

Postoperative follow-up of patients exceeds five years (according to our team’s protocol), while their quality of life changes radically.

This is the result of the excellent collaboration of the team with the attending physician.