Comparison of perioperative outcomes between hybrid uniportal robotic-assisted and uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery - A propensity score matching analysis.

Abstract

Background: To evaluate the perioperative outcomes of hybrid multi-arm robotic-assisted uniportal thoracoscopic surgery (H-URATS) using a laparoscopic stapling device, assess the safety and feasibility of the procedure, and summarize the surgical experience.

Methods: The Department of Thoracic Surgery at Xinjiang Tumor Hospital has performed over 100 H-URATS procedures using endoscopic staplers and the robotic surgery platform. We collected the clinical data and perioperative outcomes from patients undergoing Uniportal Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (UVATS) and H-URATS between January 2023 and August 2024. Propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted based on clinical characteristics and perioperative outcomes were compared between the two groups after matching.

Results: A total of 395 patients were included, with 109 in the H-URATS group and 286 in the UVATS group. After PSM, each group consisted of 92 patients. There were no significant differences between the H-URATS and UVATS groups in terms of chest drainage duration, postoperative hospital stay, conversion to thoracotomy rate, intensive care unit admission rate, postoperative complication rate, postoperative pathological types, or tumor TNM staging (P > 0.05). The H-URATS group had less intraoperative blood loss compared to the UVATS group (P < 0.001), and more lymph nodes (LNs) and LN stations were dissected in the H-URATS group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: In terms of short-term results, our study confirms the safety and feasibility of H-URATS as a new minimally invasive technique. It combines the advantages of uniportal thoracoscopy and robotic surgery systems and demonstrates potential benefits in oncological outcomes and complex procedures such as segmentectomies.