title: Maximizing use of robot-arm no. 3 in daVinci-assisted thoracic surgery.
abstract: We have previously reported on the importance of appropriate robot-arm settings and replacement of instrument ports in robot-assisted thoracic surgery, because the thoracic cavity requires a large space to access all lesions in various areas of the thoracic cavity from the apex to the diaphragm and mediastinum and the chest wall. (1 - 3) Moreover, it can be difficult to manipulate the da Vinci Surgical System using only arms No. 1 and No. 2 depending on the tumor location. However, arm No. 3 is usually positioned on the same side as arm No. 2, and sometimes it is only used as an assisting-arm to avoid conflict with other arms ( Fig. 1 ). In this report, we show how robot-arm No. 3 can be used with maximum effectiveness in da Vinci-assisted thoracic surgery. [Figure: see text].
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Naohiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kajiwara
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Yasufumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hagiwara
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kakihana
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohira
authors.forename: Norihiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kawate
authors.forename: Norihiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ikeda
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013945:Thymoma / Q000601:surgery*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Robot arm; Robotic surgery; da Vinci Surgical System