Korea University study shows benefits of single-port robotic thymectomy over traditional methods

A research team from Korea University College of Medicine has published results comparing single-port robotic thymectomy to conventional video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) thymectomy. The study analyzed 110 cases from November 2018 to May 2024, showing no conversions to median sternotomy and a 98% rate of no major complications. The single-port robotic method had a 0% conversion rate to multi-port surgery, with shorter chest tube duration and hospitalization compared to VATS. The researchers concluded that single-port robotic thymectomy is safer and more efficient than traditional methods. The study also explored single-port robotic techniques for lung and esophageal cancer surgeries. The findings were published in the journal Cancers, highlighting the potential for single-port robotic surgery to become a standard treatment option.