Two new studies from Intuitive Surgical show robotic-assisted lung surgery has outcome benefits when compared with open surgery and video-assisted minimally invasive surgery, according to Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Intuitive Surgical. Both studies' lead authors have financial relationships with Intuitive Surgical, which funded the study published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, according to the company. Here are four points to know about the studies:
1. The studies compared three methods for lobectomy of cancerous lung tissue — open thoracotomy, robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery — comparing experimental outcomes data with data on open and video-assisted lung surgeries from a national database.
Sign up for our FREE E-Weekly for more coverage like this sent to your inbox!
2. One study, published in Innovations, found robotic-assisted surgery created better outcomes than traditional open or traditional minimally invasive techniques. The study examined outcomes from nearly 200 patients at two healthcare facilities.
3. The other study, published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, found robotic-assisted surgery was both safe and effective even in community hospitals and for surgeons who are new users of the technology, with outcomes equal to video-assisted surgery and better than open surgery. The study examined outcomes from 120 patients and six surgeons at six healthcare facilities.
4. In both studies, better outcomes from robotic-assisted surgery included: shorter length-of-stay, fewer blood transfusions, shorter time of chest tube insertion and fewer air leaks lasting more than 5 days.
More Articles on Clinical Quality & Infection Control:
Zapping Workplace Tension to Improve Patient Safety
804 Hospitals Earn Top Patient Safety Grade From Leapfrog
Joint Commission Project Reduced Falls by 35%