[Introduction of Minimally Invasive Thoracoscopic Surgery for the Anterior Mediastinum;Subxiphoid Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Thymectomy and Robot-assisted Thymectomy].

In Japan, robot-assisted surgery for malignant lung tumors, benign mediastinal tumors, and malignant mediastinal tumors has been covered by the national health insurance since 2018. Hence, the number of domestic robotic surgical procedures is increasing. Recently, we introduced endoscopic surgery such as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) via a subxiphoidal approach for thymectomy. Here, we compared VATS and robotic surgery via a subxiphoidal approach in terms of clinical factors. During the study period, 5 consecutive patients who underwent robotic thymectomy and 24 patients who underwent VATS were analyzed. Although the operative time was longer in the robotic group, the intraoperative blood loss, postoperative length of stay, and postoperative complications were favorable in the robotic group. The disadvantage of robotic surgery is the necessity for a reduction in operative time including console duration time. However, future developments in the field of robotic engineering will lead to the creation of systems that allow for more advanced surgical techniques. We must chose procedures in consideration of the best method for each patient, and it is necessary to perform robotic surgery based on the expense and therapeutic effect, social environment, and way of life of each patient.