title: Robotic resection of mediastinal masses in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Robotic surgery may be particularly well suited for solid chest masses. In this paper, we present our initial experience by using robotic surgery to resect mediastinal masses in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five pediatric patients with an average age of 9.8 years (range, 2-17) and an average weight of 41.5 kg (range, 13.9-70.5) underwent a robotic resection of a mediastinal chest mass using the da Vinci Surgical Robot (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Operative time ranged from 44 to 156 minutes, with an average of 113 minutes. The pathology varied considerably and included a ganglioneuroma, ganglioneuroblastoma, teratoma, germ cell tumor, and a large inflammatory mass of unclear etiology. No complications or conversions occurred. Average length of hospitalization was 1.4 days. Follow-up averaged 2 years, with no evidence of recurrence in any patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Robotic surgery is safe and effective for resecting solid mediastinal chest masses. The articulating instruments are particularly helpful for dissecting around a solid mass within the rigid thoracic cavity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Seattle Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, USA. john.meechem@seattlechildrens.org
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Meehan
authors.forename: Anthony D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Sandler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D018305:Ganglioneuroblastoma / Q000601:surgery; D005729:Ganglioneuroma / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000601:surgery; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D013724:Teratoma / Q000601:surgery