title: Da Vinci robot-assisted system for thymectomy: experience of 55 patients in China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Da Vinci robot-assisted thymectomy has been used in the past several years in China, however, practical experience in performing this approach in China remains limited. Thus, the study aimed to evaluate the experience of da Vinci robot-assisted thymectomy in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  From June 2010 to December 2012, 55 patients with diseases of the thymus underwent thymectomy using the da Vinci surgical HD robotic system. The clinical data of the da Vinci robot-assisted thymectomies were compared with the data of video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomies in the same period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All da Vinci robot operations were successful. This is a retrospective analysis which demonstrated that compared with video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy in the same period, the clinical outcomes of da Vinci robot-assisted thymectomy were not significantly different.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The da Vinci robot-assisted thymectomy is a safe, minimally invasive, and convenient operation, and shows promise for general thoracic surgery in China.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Clinical Medicine School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Demin
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guohua
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.forename: Shen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation; D013934:Thymectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000601:surgery; D014741:Video Recording; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: da Vinci system; robotic surgery; thoracoscopy; thymectomy