Thoracoscopic lung resection for a peripheral lung cancer by a single surgeon with a voice-controlled robot

Thirty patients with a peripheral lung cancer underwent consecutive thoracoscopic lung resections with a voice-controlled robot between October 1998 and February 2001. The patients with a high risk such as cardio-pulmonary dysfunction or the patients aged 80 years or older were included. Patients with stage I cancer of the right lung in which lobectomy with lymph node dissection was anticipated were also included. Thirty thoracoscopic procedures were performed by a single surgeon using a voice-controlled robot. Thoracoscopic lung resection by a single surgeon with a voice-controlled robot was achieved in 27 patients. The postoperative follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 42 months. In all patients, thoracoscopic procedures without no need for a human assistant were achieved. There were no survival differences between the wedge resection group and lobectomy group, in the patients having adenocarcinoma and patients having squamous cell carcinoma, and elderly patients and young group patients. Complications related or unrelated to the maneuvers of a voice-controlled robot were not noted. Postoperative complications occurred in 4 patients (atelectasis 2, postoperative dementia 2). All of the events resolved within one week. Thoracoscopic lung resection such as wedge resection or lobectomy by a single surgeon with a voice-controlled robot may be feasible in selected patients with lung cancers. Its application must be confirmed by further studies.