title: Experience with the "da Vinci" robotic system for early-stage thymomas: Report of 23 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to report a single referral center experience in robotic extended thymectomy for clinical early stage thymomas, evaluating its safety, feasibility and efficacy, with special regard to oncological outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2009 and December 2012, we retrospectively selected patients who underwent robotic extended thymectomy for clinical early stage thymomas. Operative time, morbidity, mortality, duration of hospitalization, and overall and disease-free survival were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 23 patients (15 males, eight females) with a mean age of 49.3 years (range 20-66). There were no intra-operative complications, and no mortality. The mean operative time was 85.2 minutes (range 60-180). No patient underwent conversion to open surgery. All post-operative complications (4.3%) were conservatively treated. The mean post-operative stay was 3.6 days (range two to nine). The pathological analysis revealed Masaoka stage I (21 cases) and II (two cases). No disease recurrence occurred at a mean follow-up of 24.8 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Robotic thymectomy is a safe and feasible technique, with a short operative time and low morbidity. Even on a small series with short follow-up, robotic extended thymectomy for thymoma appeared to be an effective treatment for early-stage thymomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Ji-Cheng
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tantai
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Heng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
keywords: Minimally invasive surgery; robotics; thymoma; thymus