title: Robotic thoracic surgery results in shorter hospital stay and lower postoperative pain compared to open thoracotomy: a matched pairs analysis.
abstract: To evaluate postoperative pain intensity and length of hospital stay after open or robotic thoracic surgery in a standardized postoperative pain therapy setting.
  
  
  
  In the present retrospective (oberservation period: January 2015 until January 2016) study we matched data of 38 patients with robotic thoracic surgery ("robotic patients"; age: 62.2 years, male gender: 42.1%) with 38 patients with open thoracic surgery ("open patients"; age: 62.5 years, male gender: 42.1%). Power analysis indicated that 36 patients per group would be required.
  
  
  
  68% of all patients received an epidural catheter, and 32% a systemic opioid based analgesia. Postoperative pain intensity in "robotic patients" was lower at rest on postoperative day 3-5 compared to "open patients" (NRS POD 3 robotic surgery 0.5±1.0 vs. open surgery 1.0±1.6, p = 0.04; NRS POD 4 robotic surgery 0,5 ± 1.0 vs. open surgery 1.1±1.3, p=0.04; NRS POD 5 robotic surgery 0.7 ± 1.0 vs. open surgery 1.5±1.5, p=0.003). Chest tube duration was shorter in "robotic patients" (2.9 ± 2.0 days vs. 4.9 ± 2.2 days; p < 0.001). Moreover, length of hospital stay was shorter in "robotic patients" than in "open patients" (6.9 days vs. 8.0 days; p = 0.02). There was no significant difference in postoperative opioid consumption between the groups. Nearly 95% of patients were discharged home with an oral opioid in both groups.
  
  
  
  Patients after robotic pulmonary resection experience lower postoperative pain and are discharged earlier from hospital than patients after open thoracic surgery.
  
  
  
  The study design is retrospectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Ruhrlandklinik, West German Lung Center, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Tüschener Weg 40, 45239, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2532-8398
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Darr
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery and Thoracic Endoscopy, Ruhrlandklinik, West German Lung Center, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Danjouma
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cheufou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumology, Ruhrlandklinik, West German Lung Center, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Weinreich
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Magdeburg, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hachenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery and Thoracic Endoscopy, Ruhrlandklinik, West German Lung Center, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Clemens
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aigner
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Ruhrlandklinik, West German Lung Center, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Tüschener Weg 40, 45239, Essen, Germany. Sandra.Kampe@ruhrlandklinik.uk-essen.de.|Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Magdeburg, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany. Sandra.Kampe@ruhrlandklinik.uk-essen.de.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kampe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015505:Chest Tubes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000379:methods; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid
keywords: Controlled-release oxycodone; Epidural analgesia; Hospital stay; Open thoracotomy; Pain scores; Postoperative analgesia; Robotic pulmonary resection