This study reports the first successful clinical application of a robotic-assisted system in transcatheter balloon-expandable aortic valve implantation using the Edwards SAPIEN 3 valve. Two male patients, aged 60 and 63 years, respectively, presented with severe aortic stenosis confirmed by echocardiography and computed tomography, showing significant valvular calcification and elevated transvalvular pressure gradients, meeting the indications for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Both procedures were performed via the right femoral artery using a robotic-assisted delivery and positioning system developed by Shanghai Surgerii Medical Technology Co., Ltd. The operator controlled the delivery system and valve positioning precisely through the console, while the assistant performed balloon expansion and valve deployment. Both procedures were completed successfully without intraoperative complications. The operative times were 75 minutes and 67 minutes, with fluoroscopy times of 16 minutes and 23 minutes, and radiation doses of 714 mGy and 971 mGy, respectively. Postoperative echocardiography demonstrated well-functioning prosthetic valves, with mean transvalvular pressure gradients of 3.9 mm Hg and 8.0 mm Hg, and none or trivial paravalvular leakage. No coronary obstruction, conduction disturbance, or vascular complications were observed. This report represents the world’s first clinical use of a robotic-assisted system for balloon-expandable TAVI. It confirms the feasibility and safety of robotic assistance in transcatheter valve delivery and positioning, offering a new approach to enhance procedural precision and stability, and providing valuable insights for the future development of intelligent, minimally invasive therapies for structural heart disease.
ObjectiveTo compare the effectiveness of robot-assisted (RA) minimally invasive surgery versus traditional fluoroscopy-assisted (FA) open posterior fixation surgery in treating thoracolumbar fractures with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). MethodsA clinical data of 21 cases of thoracolumbar fractures with AS who met the selection criteria between December 2016 and December 2023 was retrospectively analyzed. Ten cases underwent RA minimally invasive surgery group (RA group) and 11 cases underwent FA open posterior fixation surgery (FA group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, fracture segment distribution, fracture type, time from injury to surgery, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grading between RA group and FA group (P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, radiation exposure time, radiation dose, hospital stay, and complications of the two groups were recorded. According to Gertzbein-Robbins criteria, the accuracy of screw implantation was evaluated by CT within 1 week after surgery. During follow-up, pain and nerve function were evaluated by VAS score and ASIA grading. ResultsAll patients underwent surgery successfully, and there was no significant difference in operation time (P>0.05). The intraoperative blood loss and hospital stay in the RA group were significantly less than those in the FA group (P<0.05), and the radiation exposure time and radiation dose were significantly more than those in the FA group (P<0.05). A total of 249 pedicle screws were implanted in the two groups, including 118 in the RA group and 131 in the FA group. According to the Gertzbein-Robbins criteria, the proportion of clinically acceptable screws (grades A and B) in the RA group was significantly higher than that in the FA group (P<0.05). Patients in both groups were followed up 3-12 months, with an average of 6.8 months. The VAS scores of the two groups after surgery were significantly lower than those before surgery, and the differences were significant (P<0.05). The RA group had lower scores than the fluoroscopy group at 1 week and 3 months after surgery (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in neurological function grading between groups at 1 week and 3 months after surgery (P>0.05). In the FA group, 1 case of deep infection and 1 case of deep vein thrombosis of lower extremity occurred, while no complication occurred in the RA group, and there was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Both RA minimally invasive surgery and FA open posterior fixation surgery can achieve good effectiveness. Compared with the latter, the former has more advantages in terms of intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, and accuracy of pedicle screw insertion.
Minimally invasive cardiac surgeries are the trend in the future. Among them, robotic cardiac surgery is the latest iteration with several key-hole incision, 3-dimentional visualization, and articulated instrumentation of 7 degree of ergonomic freedom for those complex procedures in the heart. In particular, robotic mitral valve surgery, as well as coronary artery bypass grafting, has evolved over the last decade and become the preferred method at certain specialized centers worldwide because of excellent results. Other cardiac procedures are in various stages of evolution. Stepwise innovation of robotic technology will continue to make robotic operations simpler, more efficient, and less invasive, which will encourage more surgeons to take up this technology and extend the benefits of robotic surgery to a larger patient population.
The robotic bronchoscopy system is a new technology for lung lesion location, biopsy and interventional therapy. Its safety and effectiveness have been clinically proven. Based on many advanced technologies carried by the robotic bronchoscopy system, it is more intelligent, convenient and stable when clinicians perform bronchoscopy operations. It has higher accuracy and diagnostic rates, and less complications than bronchoscopy with the assistance of magnetic navigation and ordinary bronchoscopy. This article gave a review of the progress of robotic bronchoscopy systems, and a prospect of the combination with artificial intelligence.
ObjectivesTo investigate the safety and efficacy of robot-assisted surgery for mediastinal tumor. MethodsWe respectively analyzed the clinical data of 47 patients with clinical diagnosis of mediastinal tumor undergoing robot-assisted surgery in our hospital from May 2009 to March 2015. There were 29 males and 18 females at age of 48 (20-78) years. Robotic instruments were used through two 8 mm thoracoscopic ports and camera placed through a 12 mm observation port, without any additional utility incision. ResultsAll 47 surgeries were accomplished successfully. The operative time was 73±36 minutes. The blood loss was 48±15 ml. There was only one conversion due to bleeding during the operation. No perioperative mortality or morbidity occurred. There was no perioperative transfusion. Learning curve showed operative time shortened sharply as the procedures increased. After 20 cases of procedure, operative time was stabilized as the learning curve established. The equation is y(min)=-20.41ln(x)+119.43, R2=0.312, P<0.01. ConclusionRobot-assisted surgery for mediastinal tumor are initially proved safe and feasible with great perspective in the new age of minimally invasive thoracic surgery.
Objective To compare the perioperative outcomes of atypical segmentectomy between robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) and conventional video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MethodsThe data of patients who underwent minimally invasive anatomic atypical segmentectomy in our hospital from October 2016 to December 2021 were collected. These patients were divided into a RATS group and a VATS group according to the operation method. Propensity score (PS) matching was used to select patients with close clinical baseline characteristics, and the perioperative results of the two groups were compared. ResultsA total of 1 048 patients were enrolled, including 320 males and 728 females, with a mean age of 53.51±11.13 years. There were 277 patients in the RATS group and 771 patients in the VATS group. After 1∶1 PS matching, 277 pairs were selected. Both groups were well balanced for age, sex, smoking history, body mass index, Charlson comorbidity index, pulmonary function, tumor size, tumor location, and histological type. All patients were R0 resection, and there were no deaths within 30 days after surgery. The RATS group had shorter operative time [85 (75, 105) min vs. 115 (95, 140) min, P<0.001] and less blood loss [50 (30, 100) mL vs. 60 (50, 100) mL, P=0.001]. There were no statistical differences between the two groups in lymph node resection, conversion to thoracotomy, thoracic drainage time, total amount of thoracic drainage or postoperative complications (P>0.05). ConclusionBoth RATS and VATS atypical segmentectomies are safe and feasible for early-stage NSCLC. RATS can effectively shorten the operative time, and reduce blood loss.
ObjectiveTo analyze the risk factors for complications after robotic segmentectomy.MethodsClinical data of 207 patients undergoing robot-assisted anatomical segmentectomy in our hospital from June 2015 to July 2019 were retrospectively analyzed, including 69 males and 138 females with a median age of 54.0 years. The relationship between clinicopathological factors and prolonged air leakage, pleural effusion, and pulmonary infection after surgery was analyzed.ResultsAfter robot-assisted segmentectomy, 20 (9.7%) patients developed prolonged air leakage (>5 d), 17 (8.2%) patients developed pleural effusion, and 4 (1.9%) patients developed pulmonary infection. Univariate logistic regression showed that body mass index (BMI, P=0.018), FEV1% (P=0.024), number of N1 lymph nodes resection (P=0.008) were related to prolonged air leakage after robot-assisted segmentectomy. Benign lesion was a risk factor for pleural effusion (P=0.013). The number of lymph node sampling stations was significantly related to the incidence of pulmonary infection (P=0.035). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that the BMI (OR=0.73, P=0.012) and N1 lymph node sampling (OR=1.38, P=0.001) had a negative and positive relationship with prolonged air leakage after robot-assisted segmentectomy, respectively.ConclusionThe incidence of pulmonary complications after robot-assisted segmentectomy is low. The lower BMI and more N1 lymph node sampling is, the greater probability of prolonged air leakage is. Benign lesions and more lymph node sampling stations are risk factors for pleural effusion and lung infection, respectively. Attention should be paid to the prevention and treatment of perioperative complications for patients with such risk factors.
ObjectiveTo compare oncologic and short-term outcomes between the robotic and laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study using a prospectively collected database. Patients’ records were obtained from Gansu Provincial Hospital between July 2015 and October 2017. Eighty patients underwent robotic-assisted total mesorectal excision (R-TME group) and one hundred and sixteen with the same histopathological stage of the tumor underwent an laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (L-TME group). Both operations were performed by the same surgeon. Results The time to the first passage of flatus ［(3.28±1.64) d vs. (6.01±2.77) d, P<0.001］, the time to the first postoperative oral fluid intake ［(4.46±1.62) d vs. (6.28±2.74) d, P<0.001） and the length of hospital stay ［（11.20±5.80）d vs. (14.72±6.90) d, P=0.023］ of the R-TME group was about 3 days faster than the L-TME group. The incidence of postoperative urinary retention (2.50% vs 7.76%, P=0.016) was significantly lower in the R-TME group than the L-TME group. However, the intraoperative blood loss of the R-TME group was more than the L-TME group ［(175.06±110.77) mL vs. (123.91±99.61) mL, P=0.031, ）. The operative time, number of lymph nodes harvested and distal margin were similar intergroup（P>0.05）. The total cost was higher in the R-TME than in the L-TME group ［(85 623.91±13 310.50) CNY vs. (67 356.79±17 107.68) CNY, P=0.084), however, this difference was statistically insignificant. ConclusionsCompared with the L-TME, the R-TME has the same oncologic outcomes and rapid postoperative short-term recovery. However, the long-term outcome of the R-TME remains to be further observed.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the postoperative complications between robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) and laparoscopic-assisted surgery (LAS) in children with hirschsprung's disease (HSCR). MethodsThe PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI, and WanFang Data databases were electronically searched to collect non-randomized controlled studies related to the objective from inception to May 10, 2025. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Meta-analysis was then performed by using RevMan 5.4 software. ResultsA total of 7 studies involving 901 children were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that the RAS group had a lower incidence of postoperative enterocolitis than the LAS group (OR=0.64, 95%CI 0.42 to 0.98, P=0.04) and a higher rate of complication-free outcomes (OR=2.16, 95%CI 1.26 to 3.72, P<0.01). No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in intraoperative duration, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative anastomotic complications, fecal soiling, adhesive intestinal obstruction, wound infection, incisional hernia, perianal infection, or urinary retention (P>0.05). ConclusionCurrent evidence shows that RAS significantly reduces the risk of postoperative enterocolitis and improves the rate of complication-free outcomes in children with HSCR but offers no advantages in intraoperative indicators or other complications. Due to the limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
ObjectiveTo summarize the data of robotic hysterectomy in patients with large and super-large uterus in single center, and explore the relevant clinical experience and advantages of robotic surgery.MethodsThe medical records of the patients with large uterus caused by gynecological diseases who underwent robotic hysterectomy in the Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2016 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients with uterine size from 12 to 16 weeks of gestation were divided into large uterus group and those with uterine volume larger than 16 weeks of gestation were divided into super large uterus group.ResultsA total of 62 patients were included, including 28 in the large uterus group with the average uterus size of (14.3±2.1) gestational weeks, and 34 in the super large uterus group with the average uterus size of (19.9±2.8) gestational weeks. There was no significant difference in mean age, body mass index, history of abdominal surgery or diagnostic composition between the two groups (P>0.05), except for the size of the uterus (t=8.772, P<0.001). The operation time in the large uterus group was less than that in the super-large uterus group [(75.4±22.6) vs. (91.7±27.8) min; t=2.495, P=0.015]. The incidence of complications after robotic hysterectomy was 14.5% (9/62) in the 62 patients, including 14.3% (4/28) in the large uterus group and 14.7% (5/34) in the super-large uterus group. There was no significant difference in the amount of bleeding, blood transfusion rate, ratio of conversion to open surgery, average hospitalization days or incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups (P>0.05).ConclusionsRobotic hysterectomy has the advantages of flexible manipulator, 3-D operative field of vision and stability of manipulation. In addition, increased uterine volume does not lead to increased surgical trauma, nor apparently affect the prognosis.