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The treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has evolved tremendously in recent decades as innovations in medical therapies advanced concomitantly with minimally invasive surgical techniques. Despite early skepticism regarding its benefits, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) techniques for the surgical resection of early-stage NSCLC have now become the standard of care. After being the subject of many studies since its inception, VATS has been shown to cause less postoperative pain, have shorter recovery time, and have fewer overall complications when compared to conventional open approaches. Furthermore, some studies have shown it to have comparable oncological outcomes, though more higher evidence studies are needed. Newer technologies and improved surgical instruments, advancements in nodule localization techniques, and improved preoperative staging procedures have allowed for the development of newer, less invasive techniques such as uniportal VATS and parenchymal-sparing sublobar resections, which might further improve postoperative rates of complications in specific cases. These minimally invasive approaches have allowed surgeons to offer surgery to high-risk patients and those who would otherwise not tolerate conventional thoracotomy, though some relative contraindications still exist. This review aims to describe the evolution of VATS lobectomy, current techniques, its indications, contraindications, preoperative testing, benefits, and outcomes in patients with stage I and II NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: For the past 20 years, robotic surgical systems have been used for the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). The da Vinci Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Inc.) has been one of the most used robotic platforms. This study aims to retrospectively compare the performance of two models of surgical robots. Materials and Methods: A retrospective comparative study was conducted from a prospective database including all patients who underwent robotic RYGB (RRYGB) from 2011 to 2020. Results: Of a total of 277 patients included, 134 were in the RRYGB using the da Vinci S™ (RRYGB-S™) group and 143 were in the RRYGB using the da Vinci Xi™ (RRYGB-Xi™) group. The mean operative time in the RRYGB-S and RRYGB-Xi groups was 154 ± 28 and 151 ± 32 minutes, respectively (P = .510). The was no statistically significant difference in terms of intraoperative complications between the groups with regard to positive blue test, bleeding, and failure of stapler line. The readmission rate was higher in the RRGB-S group (14.1%) than in the RRYGB-Xi group (3.4%) (P = .004), and it was mainly due to major complications (P = .003) including pouch and gastrojejunostomy anastomotic leaks (P = .001). The nonsurgical complications were statistically significantly higher in the RRYGB-S group (7.4%) than in the RRYGB-Xi group (2.1%) (P < .05), as well as the surgical complications were higher in the RRYGB-S group (7.5%) than in the RRYGB-Xi group (0%) (P < .001). The mean percentage of the total weight loss at 1 and 2 years of follow-up did not show any statistically significant difference (P = .547). Conclusions: The higher complication rate in the S surgical system might be correlated with the initial learning curve and stressed the need for proper robotic surgical training and accurate strategies when introducing emerging technologies into the surgical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Since introduced in 2010, the transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) has been gaining popularity worldwide for local excision of benign and early-stage malignant rectal lesions of the proximal and mid-rectum. The aim of this study was to review our experience with the procedure, including mid-term oncological outcomes. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study. The data collected include all patients who underwent TAMIS procedure in a single tertiary institute. Results: Forty TAMIS procedures were performed on 38 patients, 78% men and 22% women, with a median age of 67 years. The indications were 24 benign lesions, 14 adenocarcinoma, and 1 neuroendocrine tumor. The average lesion size was 43.2 mm and the average distance from the anal verge was 8 cm (range 5-12). We had no intraoperative complications and overall the 30-day morbidity rate was 20%, of which only one was major complication. No perioperative mortality was encountered. After a mean follow-up time of 26 months we had 3 cases of local recurrence (21.4%) of which 2 cases had high-risk features on the primary TAMIS pathology and refused our advice for completion proctectomy. Hence, they were both treated eventually with adjuvant radiotherapy. The distant recurrence rate was 14.2%. Conclusions: The TAMIS procedure is an acceptable option for local excision of rectal lesions for carefully selected patients. It has overt benefits of lower morbidity and easier recovery compared with radical surgery. When it is utilized for early-stage rectal cancers, high-risk pathological features should prompt a completion proctectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the past 20 years, the fast spread of new surgical technologies has reached an important peak with the advent of the robotic surgery. Many studies have been run about a cosmetic desire to avoid neck scars after thyroid surgery and this has led to the development of remote access robotic thyroidectomy (RT). Among the various RT approaches, unilateral transaxillary access is one of the most widely used, reporting excellent results in terms of feasibility and patient's compliance. The mini-invasive technique demonstrated many potential shortcoming overcomes with the robotic approach. At our institution a team of 3 skilled endocrine surgeons with experience in laparoscopic and robotic procedures performed RT. Our aim is to report our 8-year single-centre robot-assisted thyroidectomy experience, by applying a gasless unilateral transaxillary approach with the so-called hybrid technique, and to demonstrate its safety and feasibility.Methods: In the period between September 2010 and June 2018 at our institution, a total of 472 patients underwent thyroid and parathyroid transaxillary surgery. The hybrid technique was applied for all the robotic procedures. A total of 412 procedures were performed with the use of external "Modena Retractor" (CEATEC® Medizintechnik) and with 3 surgeons. According to international guidelines, our indications for robotic surgery were benign lesions with a diameter <5 cm, Graves' disease, well-differentiated thyroid cancers, and parathyroid adenomas.Results: In this series, a total of 449 cases were registered. General data of patients were analyzed: gender, age, body mass index, tumor size, preoperative fine-needle aspiration examination, definitive histological examination, operative time, and postoperative complications.Conclusions: This study confirms the application of robotic approach in thyroid surgery as a feasible technique in terms of safety and complications risk. The hybrid technique, together with a dedicated surgical team, can lead to obtaining the same outcomes of traditional anterior cervicotomic surgery, adding a scarless thyroidectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The robotic surgical technology introduced over the last decade and a half has revolutionized many aspects of performing complex procedures. It combines technological and clinical innovations to improve surgical quality and patient outcomes. Yet, to date, there is still a lack of standardization in training and certification of robotic surgeons. The criteria for proficiency and credentialing in robotic surgery vary widely among institutions. The aim of this review is to discuss the key points of training and surgeon assessment in robotic surgery, as well as the challenges that still need to be overcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The light augmentation device (LAD®) is a new disposable tool designed to improve observation by transillumination in laparoscopic surgery. It can be introduced into the abdomen through an 11-12 mm port as a supplementary light source. The miniaturized design allows the surgeon to pick up the device with an endograsper and to place it under direct vision where needed. This proof-of-concept study demonstrated safety and efficacy of the device in the animal model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The identification of retropubic vasculature is not easy under the pressure of insufflated gas during totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernioplasty. We aimed to present the usefulness of a maneuver that allows the clear identification of retropubic vasculature.Methods: Vascular anatomy on the retropubic surface in 364 patients who underwent the TEP procedure from January 2005 to September 2015 was evaluated. In patients after July 2014, the pressure in the workspace was decreased from 14 to 8 mmHg before fixation of the mesh to clearly identify the veins. The results before and after July 2014 were compared.Results: Demographic features were not significantly different between two periods. The number of hemipelvises in the first and second periods was 398 and 77, respectively. The rate of identification of venous corona mortis was 31% in the second period, whereas it was 1.0% in the first period (P = .000). The identification of thick (5.5% versus 10.3%; P = .123) and thin (22.8% versus 36.3%; P = .014) arterial structures and their sum were increased in the second period (28.4% versus 46.7%; P = .002). The rate of retropubic bleeding was zero in the second period, while it was 1.5% in the first period.Conclusions: During TEP hernioplasty, the pressure of insufflated gas more than 10 mmHg in the preperitoneal space hinders the correct identification of vessels on the retropubic surface. The proposed maneuver, to decrease the pressure in the workspace to 8 mmHg, can provide clear identification of all vessels, which decreases the potential risk of vascular injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Laparoscopic caudate hepatectomy, which is a challenging procedure, has been reported sporadically. However, there is no standardized surgical technique, and the safety and feasibility of this procedure remain controversial.Materials and Methods: A left-sided, purely laparoscopic approach for anatomic caudate hepatectomy was used for 11 selected patients in our institution. The procedure and technique of laparoscopic caudate hepatectomy were described. Perioperative data of these patients were retrospectively reviewed.Results: The 11 cases included two subgroups: laparoscopic isolated caudate hepatectomy (n = 4) and laparoscopic combined caudate and left hemihepatectomy (n = 7). There were three major steps for anatomic caudate hepatectomy. Two conversions were required (18.2%). Two complications (Clavien Grades I and II) occurred but no deaths.Conclusions: The left-sided, purely laparoscopic approach for anatomic caudate hepatectomy is safe and feasible in selected patients. This procedure can be performed by hepatobiliary surgeons with abundant experience in laparoscopic liver surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The most common paradigm in minimally invasive surgery is entry of a single trocar through separate incisions in the abdomen. However, in an effort to decrease postoperative pain and minimize scarring, alternative techniques have been described. Needlescopic surgery uses instruments that are 3 mm or less in diameter. Prior uses of needlescopic instruments have been hindered somewhat by diminished shaft strength and small end-effector size. The Percuvance™ (Teleflex, Wayne, PA) system uses a 2.9-mm shaft with interchangeable 5-mm end effectors in order to minimize abdominal wall trauma while maintaining the functionality of traditional laparoscopic instruments.Materials and Methods: All patients evaluated for laparoscopic surgery by two surgeons with a foregut and general surgery practice at the Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland, OH) were included in the study. Fifteen consecutive patients were enrolled in the study. Patient demographics and operative results were reviewed.Results: In March 2015, 15 patients underwent surgery using the Percuvance surgical system at the Cleveland Clinic. There was one conversion to open surgery due to extensive intraabdominal adhesions and unclear anatomy. There was one re-exploration for presumed anastomotic leak, which was negative. Operative time and length of hospital stay were similar to those of standard laparoscopic procedures. There were no deaths in this series. Subjective surgeon experience was overall positive, and functionality of the Percuvance system seemed equal to that of standard 5-mm laparoscopic instrumentation.Conclusions: This initial experience with the Percuvance system demonstrated effective exchange of 5-mm port sites for needlescopic instruments with similar handling to traditional laparoscopic instruments. This interchangeable system may allow performance similar to standard laparoscopic port instrument orientation and principles in the setting of decreased-caliber access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Laparoscopic knot-tying is an advanced skill. The traditional square knot or surgeon's knot is often used at the end of a continuous suture line in laparoscopic surgery. The Aberdeen knot has been shown to be stronger and more secure than the surgeon's knot for ending a suture line but is rarely used in laparoscopic surgery. We have developed a new technique to make the Aberdeen knot laparoscopically. Materials and Methods: At the end of a continuous suture line, the needle-attached end of the suture is held with a right-handed instrument and passed through the instrument into the loop of the last suture. The left-handed instrument is passed through the triangle made by the inserted suture, the right-handed instrument, and the loop through which the suture is inserted. The suture held by the right-handed instrument is then pulled, closing that loop and creating a new one on the left-handed instrument. The right-handed instrument is passed into the loop, and the same technique is then repeated two or more times. To finish the knot, the needle-attached end is passed through the loop, and the knot is tied. Discussion and Conclusions: Laparoscopic suturing and knotting are difficult, particularly in single-port laparoscopic surgery, where the angle between working instruments is narrow. Furthermore, knotting the end of a continuous suture is difficult when the thread becomes short. In all of these situations, this technique is able to facilitate and simplify knot-tying. No special instruments are required to make a 'laparoscopic Aberdeen knot.' [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was the comparison of single-port and multiport laparoscopic methods for the treatment of inguinal hernia in children during the first 3 months of life. Subjects and Methods: Between January 2002 and December 2012, we performed 260 laparoscopic operations in neonates and infants with the diagnosis of inguinal hernia. Surgical procedures were single-port endoscopic herniorraphy (Group I; 180 patients) and multiport laparoscopic herniorraphy (Group II; 80 patients). The two groups were compared for demographics of patients, operative report, and early and late postoperative outcomes. Results: We applied the single-port laparoscopic method for correction of inguinal hernia in small babies. The mean operative time (duration of one-sided and bilateral repair) in Group I was 16 minutes, whereas the mean duration of the operation in Group II was 15.73 minutes. The number of doses of postoperative analgesia was 1.19 and 1.22, respectively. The length of hospital stay was 8.12 hours in Group I and 8.27 hours in Group II. No differences between the two groups were recorded in the follow-up period: no recurrence in either group and hydrocele formation in only 1 patient in Group II. Conclusions: There are similar functional results in treatment of inguinal hernia in babies during the first 3 months of the life using single- and multiport laparoscopy. Scarless cosmetic results are seen in the single-incision laparoscopic surgery group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aims of this study were to measure the learning curve for laparoscopic choledochojejunostomy (LCJ), to describe the technical tips and to report the follow-up data. Materials and Methods: The results of LCJ performed on 84 patients were analyzed. Patients were divided into eight groups, by surgical order. The plateau of the learning curve was defined as the period during which the operative time showed a dramatic decrease. The exact operative time was recorded using video analysis. Results: Compared with the first three groups, the fourth group showed a significantly shorter LCJ time. The subsequent groups showed a plateau, indicating that there were no more significant changes in the LCJ time. After the plateau of the learning curve was reached, the average LCJ time was 27.4±4.7 minutes. Six cases of postoperative bile leakage occurred, with all occurring before the plateau of the learning curve was reached. Five of the 6 cases of bile leakage had a nondilated common bile duct. Conclusions: Even for a surgeon experienced in laparoscopic surgery, there is a steep learning curve for the performance of LCJ. With careful video review, education of the surgical team, and various technical tips, the learning curve can be shortened. After the learning curve, experienced surgeons can perform LCJ with acceptable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Thoracoscopic plication of the diaphragm is an alternative to conventional surgical treatment of diaphragmatic evisceration via thoracotomy in neonates and infants. The aim of this study is to compare results of treatment by these two methods in the past 11 years. Materials and Methods: We studied the data of 35 neonates who underwent standard posterolateral thoracotomy (18 patients; Group I) or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (17 patients; Group II) for diaphragmatic plication. The two groups were compared for patient demographics, operative reports, and postoperative parameters. Results: The groups were similar in terms of demographics and preoperative parameters. There was a significant difference in mean operative time between the open and thoracoscopic procedure (71.67 minutes versus 51.76 minutes; P<.05). Duration of care in the neonatal intensive unit and length of hospital stay were significantly shorter in Group II (5.89 days versus 3.23 days [ P<.05] and 13.06 days versus 9.88 days [ P<.05]). Early postoperative complications (hemothorax, pneumothorax) were frequent in the thoracotomy group (Group I) (16.67% versus 0%; P>.05). Recurrence of diaphragmatic evisceration was observed only in the thoracotomy group (11.11% versus 0%; P=.486). Conclusions: Thoracoscopic plication of the diaphragm in infants in the first 3 months of life demonstrates better results than open surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Post-cystectomy ureteroileal anastomotic strictures that fail percutaneous or endourologic management require operative repair. These cases can be challenging, and few reports of robotic repairs exist in the available literature. Here we describe our stepwise approach to robotic surgical repair of ureteroileal strictures. Technique: The da Vinci® Si Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA) was used in all cases. The port configuration is similar to robotic cystectomy, although the ports are placed in a more cephalad location on the abdominal wall. The same port configuration was used for both right- and left-sided procedures. Principal surgical techniques used include dissection of the colonic mesentery, careful peeling of the ureter off of the common iliac vessels, and mobilization of the ureter on either side of the sigmoid colon. Results: Four patients with a mean age of 72 years underwent this procedure at our institution, including 2 with left-sided strictures and 2 with right-sided strictures. Three of the 4 patients had undergone prior abdominal surgery in addition to their cystectomy. All patients failed initial percutaneous and/or endourologic attempts to resolve their stricture. The ureteroileal strictures were successfully repaired robotically in all cases. With mean follow-up of 16 months no major complications were encountered, and all patients remain free of stricture recurrence to date. Conclusions: Robotic ureteroileal anastomotic stricture repair is feasible for both right- and left-sided cases. A similar operative approach can be used regardless of stricture side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SPLC) has been one of the hottest topics in minimally invasive surgery. Various techniques have been described, but the search for better techniques and equipment still continues. The aim of this study is to share a new retraction technique and the results in 27 patients. Patients and Methods: Between May 2010 and May 2011, 27 patients underwent SPLC with the presented technique. The data related to the operative and postoperative measures were collected prospectively. Operation time, pain score (visual analog scale) in the first 24 hours after the operation, and length of hospital stay were recorded by an independent nurse. Results: Twenty-seven SPLCs were performed. Indications were symptomatic gallstone disease or gallbladder polyps without active inflammation. Mean operation time was 45.7 minutes (range, 30-80 minutes). In none of the patients was introduction of an additional port or conversion to conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy needed. Conclusions: The endoloop technique can be used to overcome retraction problem while preventing spillage of bile and reducing crowding of instruments with a practically invisible scar in selected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The last two decades have witnessed a dramatic development of minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Robotic-assisted surgery is currently the latest step in the evolution of MIS. MIS was initially developed for adult surgery, but its use has progressively been extended to pediatrics. As for all new technologies, an objective evaluation is essential to adopt the robot in the practice of pediatrics. Materials and Methods: This article reviews the spectrum of evidence regarding the feasibility, safety, benefits, and limitations of abdominal and urological robot-assisted surgery in children. This analysis was performed using the PubMed database, using key words such as 'robot,' 'robotic surgery,' 'robot-assisted,' 'da Vinci,' and 'computer-enhanced surgery' combined with 'child,' 'children,' 'infants,' and 'pediatric.' Results: In total, 88 studies met the selection criteria for our review. Only 10 studies comparing robotic surgery with open or conventional laparoscopic surgery are available for abdominal or urological pediatric procedures. Fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux and pyeloplasty for hydronephrosis represent the most frequent procedures performed with robotic assistance in children. Conclusions: Robotic surgery is suitable in the pediatric practice, which necessitates fine dissections and sutures in narrow anatomical spaces. The initial results of robotic surgery in the field of pediatrics are encouraging. Further prospective and comparative studies, especially between robotic and laparoscopic approaches, are required to confirm these preliminary results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Because of improvement in surgical technique and endocrine and exocrine insufficiency management, total pancreatectomy is being frequently performed, especially for benign or low-potential malignant diseases. The laparoscopic approach is rarely performed. Subjects and Methods: Our aim is to report two cases operated by the assisted laparoscopic approach and to describe a standardized surgical technique. Results: Two patients underwent laparoscopic total pancreatectomy with assisted minilaparotomy or the hand-assisted technique for degenerated intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) and neuroendocrine tumors with operative times of 270 and 360 minutes, estimated blood loss of 200 and 300 mL, and a hospital stay of 12 and 18 days, respectively. One patient was re-operated on postoperative Day 10 for bleeding from the hepaticojejunostomy probably related to an inadequate dose of antiproton inhibitors, necessitating refection of the anastomosis with an uneventful course. Pathological examination revealed degenerated IPMNs (T3N1R0) and well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (T2NOR0) with complete resection. After 6-10 months of follow-up, the diabetes is well controlled with insignificant episodes of hypoglycemia in 1 patient without any evidence of tumor relapse. Conclusions: In selected patients laparoscopic total pancreatectomy appears safe and had many advantages over the open and other laparoscopic pancreatic resection approaches, including first laparoscopic abdominal exploration and no pancreatic anastomosis. Oncological rules can be respected, but further larger studies are needed before drawing conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: One of the most significant limitations of laparoscopic surgery is the inability to achieve tactile assessment of structures during surgical dissection. Because blood vessels are naturally warmer than their surroundings, infrared (IR) detection can be highly effective in identifying and mapping out their course. In recent years, IR detection has been used successfully for this purpose in open surgery. Nevertheless, this technology has to be yet employed in laparoscopic surgery, where its contribution would be greatest. Methods: We performed a feasibility study using this technology on live porcine models. After insertion of IR detectors into the insufflated abdomen, we performed a series of laparoscopic procedures. During these operations we evaluated the ability of the IR detector to identify blood vessels as well as the effects of local and systemic changes in temperature. Results: The IR detector successfully identified concealed blood vessels as well as acute bleeding. Cool lavage and insufflation with room-temperature CO2 accentuated IR detection of blood vessels, whereas warm CO2 and systemic temperature changes did not affect detection. Additionally, localized heating of tissue on the operative field using electrocautery did not interfere with IR sensitivity. Conclusion: Laparoscopic IR imaging is a feasible method of blood vessel detection in laparoscopic procedures. Use of IR blood vessel detection in laparoscopy has a potential to enable safer surgery and reduce operative time. Fusion of IR imaging with the standard laparoscopic view is currently being developed to allow real-time vessel mapping during laparoscopic procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding was first introduced in the early 1990s as a potentially sate, controllable, and reversible method for achieving significant weight loss in the severely obese. The Bioenterics Lap-Band® system (Inamed Health, Santa Barbara, California) is the device most commonly used. Alter 10 years of experience in treating more than 100,000 patients with the Lap-Band, it is timely for us to review the outcomes. Methods: Data for the review are derived from the experience of our unit in the treatment of 1250 patients to date, from an independent systematic review of the published literature up to September 2001, and from major studies published alter the date of closure of the systematic review. Results: Lap-Band placement has proved to be a very sate procedure with a mortality rate in the published reports of 1 in 2000, only 10% of the published mortality rate of gastric bypass. The early complication rate has been very low, but late complications of prolapse or erosions have been more frequent, particularly during the early experience. Weight is lost during the first 2 to 3 years alter surgery. The systematic review reports 56% excess weight loss (EWL) at 5 years (three reports). In comparison, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is reported to have achieved 59% EWL at 5 years (four reports). Major improvements in comorbid conditions have been reported in association with weight loss alter Lap-Band placement. Most importantly, type 2 diabetes is usually cured, and insulin resistance and reduced pancreatic β-cell function are reversed. Gastroesophageal reflux, obstructive sleep apnea, and depression are other diseases in which marked improvement is noted. Quality-of-life scores return to normal values. Conclusions: Lap-Band placement is proving to be sate and effective. In view of the attributes of adjustability, sate laparoscopic placement, and reversibility, it should be considered the optimal initial approach for the [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this review was to form a collaborative opinion regarding the utility of robotic technology, specifically the da Vinci&trad;e robot (Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA), for bariatric surgery. Eleven surgeons are currently using the da Vinci system to perform laparoscopic bariatric surgery. The surgeons were queried about the type of robotic bariatric surgery and number of cases performed, complications, and any available outcomes data. They were also asked to give their opinion of the current state of robotic bariatric surgery. Ten of the 11 surgeons responded. Six surgeons are currently using the system for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, three for laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, and three for biliary pancreatic diversion. Robotic technology is successfully being applied to bariatric surgery in a few advanced minimally invasive surgery centers throughout the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on the development of the laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery technique for the treatment of obese patients. Advantages and disadvantages of the surgical technique; Preparation of operating rooms for the laparoscopic surgery; Instruments for the surgical procedure.