title: Robotically Assisted Bilateral Bronchoplasty for Tracheobronchomalacia.
abstract: We describe the technique for the first robotically assisted bilateral bronchoplasty for the treatment of tracheobronchomalacia. Since 1954, this disease process has been treated with a right thoracotomy and posterior splinting of the tracheal membrane with mesh to restore the C-shape of the trachea. Traditional video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery has been of limited benefit in these cases owing to technical challenges. A robotically assisted technique offers the dual benefit of a minimally invasive port-based system while reproducing an open surgical technique.
authors.affiliation: From the *Division of Thoracic Surgery, Lenox Hill Hospital/NorthShore-LIJ, New York, NY USA; †Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital/NorthShore, New York, NY USA; and ‡Division of Thoracic Surgery, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY USA.
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Lazar
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Posner
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Palka
authors.forename: Laurence N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Spier
authors.forename: Richard S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Lazzaro
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001980:Bronchi / Q000601:surgery*; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D011788:Quality of Life; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013908:Thoracotomy; D055089:Tracheobronchomalacia / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*