Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery are feasible approaches with potential advantages in minimally invasive mediastinal lesions resection.

BACKGROUND

This study aims to identify the feasibility of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) compared with multiportal VATS in the resection of mediastinal lesions.

METHODS

Patients who underwent mediastinal lesion resection were enrolled and allocated to the uni-VATS, tri-VATS, and RATS groups according to the surgical approach. Propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis was performed between the VATS and RATS groups as well as the uni-VATS and tri-VATS groups. The operative and recovery parameters were compared.

RESULTS

Totally, 274 patients were enrolled. There was no difference in the operative parameters among the groups. Compared with multiportal VATS, uniportal VATS and RATS had a significantly shorter chest tube placement time (2.43±0.88 1.78±1.22 2.21±1.11 days, P<0.001) and hospital length of stay (LOS) (4.07±1.75 3.27±1.05 3.62±1.21 days, P=0.001) without increasing the incidence rate of complications (5.6% 7.2% 5.7%, P=0.864). After PSM, the RATS group showed a significantly lower unplanned conversion rate than the VATS group (0.0% 8.2%, P=0.041), while the uni-VATS group had a shorter chest tube placement time (1.83±1.20 2.35±0.86 days, P=0.013) and hospital LOS (3.23±1.03 3.95±2.00 days) than the tri-VATS group.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with multiportal VATS, uniportal VATS and RATS are technically safe and feasible with potential advantages for mediastinal lesion resection.