Robotic subxiphoid thymectomy

Abstract

When endoscopic surgery is indicated for myasthenia gravis and thymomas, most institutions use a lateral thoracic approach that includes robot-assisted surgery. However, with the unilateral thoracic approach, it can be difficult to ensure the operative field in the neck and difficult to identify the location of the contralateral phrenic nerve. In 2015, we reported on a robotic subxiphoid thymectomy (RST) in which the camera is inserted from the subxiphoid incision and robotic forceps are inserted from the bilateral intercostal spaces. With this approach, a camera is inserted into a subxiphoid incision which is the midline of the body and a surgical field comparable to that in a median sternotomy can be achieved. This makes it easier to identify the location of the bilateral phrenic nerves and offer the good visualization in the neck area. Here we report on our RST techniques. For a thymectomy without suturing, a subxiphoid, single-port thymectomy is performed because it is minimally invasive. In patients who require suturing, such as with a pericardial patch closure, RST is selected. The RST has excellent operability when performed with a robot, making it suitable for more difficult procedures. In the future, we believe that a robot-assisted thymectomy might become the standard method.

Introduction

When endoscopic surgery is indicated for myasthenia gravis and thymomas, most institutions use a lateral thoracic approach that includes robot-assisted surgery (1-3). However, with the unilateral thoracic approach, it can be difficult to ensure the operative field in the neck and difficult to identify the location of the contralateral phrenic nerve. Previously, we reported on a single-port thymectomy using a subxiphoid approach to extract the thymus from a single subxiphoid incision (4). The operative field from the camera inserted through the midline of the body made it easy to verify the neck area and identify the location of the bilateral phrenic nerves. However, a shortcoming of this approach is operability. With surgery through a single incision, there is interference between the camera scope and the forceps in the surgeon’s hands, making it difficult to perform more complex procedures such as suturing operations.

In 2003, a robot-assisted surgery for myasthenia gravis and anterior mediastinal tumors was reported (5), and in recent years good outcomes with such surgery have been reported (6). However, these robot-assisted surgical techniques use a lateral thoracic approach (7). Even with the use of a robot, the lateral thoracic approach makes it difficult to gain a good operative field of the neck and to identify the location of the contralateral phrenic nerve. Furthermore, to adequately exert the performance of the robot system, the target, i.e., the thymus, should be between the left and right arms of the robot; however, with the lateral thoracic approach, the neck portion of the thymus is not between the left and right arms. In 2015, we reported on a robotic subxiphoid thymectomy (RST) (Figure 1) (8). With this approach, a camera is inserted into a subxiphoid incision which is the midline of the body and a surgical field comparable to that in a median sternotomy can be achieved. This makes it easier to identify the location of the bilateral phrenic nerves and offer the good visualization in the neck area. Furthermore, with this approach, the left and right robot arms are inserted in the 6^th intercostal space of the bilateral precordium and the entire target/thymus lies between the left and right arms, thereby enabling maximum robot performance (Figure 2) (9). In the event of suspected invasion into the left brachiocephalic vein, to perform the surgery safely, taping of the left brachiocephalic vein distal and proximal to the tumor is needed. However, with robot-assisted surgery using a lateral thoracic approach, the presence of a tumor makes it difficult to identify the contralateral left brachiocephalic vein. In contrast, with RST, the entire left brachiocephalic vein can be observed through a midline incision, and the left brachiocephalic vein may be taped distally and proximally to the tumor (Figure 3). Furthermore, in the event of tumor invasion into the pericardium, an endoscopic pericardial incision and patch closure with a pericardial sheet is a highly difficult procedure when performed endoscopically with human hands; however, if the robot-assisted system with articulated forceps is used, it is very easy (9). In cases where the left brachiocephalic vein is taped distally and proximally to the tumor, or a concurrent pericardial resection and reconstruction is required, it is generally highly likely that endoscopic surgery will not be indicated; however, if a robot is used they can become minimally invasive procedures. As robot-assisted surgery is expensive, the benefits to the patient should balance the high cost. In general, we indicate robot-assisted surgery for highly complicated procedures that are difficult for human hands to perform endoscopically. RST helps secure the operative field of the neck and facilitates the identification of the location of the bilateral phrenic nerves. Furthermore, it has excellent operability when performed with a robot, making it suitable for more difficult procedures. In the future, we believe that a robot-assisted thymectomy might become the standard method. Here we report on our RST technique.

Figure 1.

Robotic subxiphoid thymectomy (RST). A pericardial resection and substitution with an artificial pericardial sheet are very easy with an articulated robotic system.

Figure 2.

With the approach from the lateral thoracic side, the neck portion of the thymus is not between the left and right arms (A). In contrast, with the subxiphoid approach, the entire thymus is between the left and right arms, thereby enabling good robotic operability (B) (9).

Figure 3.

When the tumor is close to the brachiocephalic vein, the approach from the lateral chest cannot identify the contralateral brachiocephalic vein beyond the tumor (Lateral approach). In contrast, with the subxiphoid approach, the left brachiocephalic vein may be identified at proximal and distal ends to the tumor (Subxiphoid approach).

Patient selection

For a thymectomy without suturing, a subxiphoid, single-port thymectomy is performed because it is minimally invasive. In patients who require suturing, such as with a pericardial patch closure, dual-port thymectomy with an additional port placed in the right 5^th intercostal space along with a subxiphoid single-port thymectomy (10) or RST is selected.

Pre-operative preparation

The patient is placed in the supine position. The arms are open so as not to be hit by the robot arms. The configuration of the equipment when using the da Vinci SI surgical system (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) is shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4.

Equipment configuration with the da Vinci SI surgical system.

Equipment preference card

We use the da Vinci SI surgical systems, which are capable of using vessel sealers as the vessel-sealing system. We use the GelPOINT Mini (Applied Medical, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, USA) as the port for a single-port surgery. The GelPOINT Mini has a gel seal on the port platform, which prevents over-fixation of the mini-ports and decreases interference of the instruments once inserted. It also enables of CO₂ insufflation. The surgeon performs a pre-docking procedure using the vessel-sealing device. There are various types of vessel-sealing devices; however the LigaSure^TM Maryland Jaw 37 cm (Covidien, Mansfield, MA, USA) device with a dissecting shaped tip is suitable for this surgery.

Forceps mounted on the robotic arms include Cadiere forceps or fenestrated grasping forceps attached to the bipolar vessel-sealing device on the left hand arm, and Maryland forceps attached to the bipolar vessel-sealing device or spatula attached to a monopolar vessel-sealing device on the right hand arm. A needle holder is used when suturing. The da Vinci surgical system can use four arms; however, to decrease the number of incisions, we do not use the 4^th arm.

Procedure

Pre-docking procedure

Under general anesthesia, artificial ventilation is performed using a double-lumen endotracheal intubation tube. The surgeon performs the surgery standing between the legs of the patient, while the scopist stands to the right of the patient to operate the thoracoscope. To begin with, a 3-cm transverse incision is made 1 cm below the xiphoid process, and the rectus abdominis is dissected at its attachment to the xiphoid process. The posterior aspect of the sternum is blindly detached using the finger. A 5-mm vertical incision is made on the fascia of the rectus abdominis, the GelPOINT Mini-port for a single-port surgery is inserted into the subxiphoid incision and CO₂ insufflation is performed at 8 mmHg. Using a rigid scope of 5 mm in diameter with 30° oblique view and using a LigaSure^TM Maryland type device, the thymus is detached from the posterior aspect of the sternum. An incision is made into the bilateral mediastinal pleura and the thoracic cavity is exposed bilaterally. Next, 1-cm skin incisions are made on either side in the 6^th intercostal space along the anterior axillary line of the precordium, and a port used for the da Vinci robotic surgery is inserted (Figure 5).

Figure 5.

Pre-docking procedure (11). Available online: http://www.asvide.com/articles/1039

RST

When using the da Vinci SI surgical system, the system is docked from the cranial side (Figure 4). A port used for a 12-mm camera is inserted into the subxiphoid port for a single-port surgery and attached to the da Vinci camera scope. The da Vinci arms are then attached to the bilateral ports in the 6^th intercostal space along the anterior axillary line of the precordium. The camera scope is used changing opportunely from direct-forward viewing to a 30° oblique viewing. At times, the assistant will expand the surgical field by pulling the thymus using an Autonomy Grasper 45 cm (Cambridge Endo, Framingham, MA, USA), which are forceps for single-port surgery, or a SILS^TM Hand Instrument SILS Clinch 36 cm (Covidien, Mansfield, MA, USA). The thymic vein is dissected using an EndoWrist Vessel Sealer (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA). The thymus and thymoma are placed in a pouch inside the mediastinum and extracted via the subxiphoid incision. A 20-Fr drain is inserted through the subxiphoid incision into the mediastinum (Figure 6).

Figure 6.

Robotic subxiphoid thymectomy (RST) (12). Available online: http://www.asvide.com/articles/1040

In the event of a suspected tumor infiltration of the lungs, a stapler is inserted through the subxiphoid port or the bilateral lateral thoracic ports, and a partial lung resection is performed. In recent years, it has become possible to attach a stapler to the da Vinci surgical system. An articulated stapler will facilitate surgery in a narrow mediastinum and thoracic cavity. In the event that pericardial invasion is suspected and a pericardial patch closure is performed, the incision is performed after the pericardium has been adequately detached from the tumor, and the pericardium is dissected using the EndoWrist Vessel Sealer. The defective portion of the pericardium is closed by a patch using a Gor-tex pericardial sheet with 3–0 Vicryl interrupted sutures (Figure 1). The interrupted sutures can be easily performed using the articulated robotic forceps (Figure 7).

Figure 7.

Robotic pericardial patch closure by the subxiphoid approach (13). Available online: http://www.asvide.com/articles/1041

Role of team members

For a safe robotic surgery, procedures must be performed by a surgical team consisting of a surgeon, anesthesiologist, engineer, and nurse, all of whom must be well-skilled in robotic surgery. When performing a new surgery, the entire team must meet in advance to perform a simulation.

Tips, tricks, and pitfalls

When using the da Vinci SI surgical system, the robot is docked from the cranial side. At this point in time, the authors have no experience in this approach using the daVinci Xi system. However, with the da Vinci Xi system the robotic arms are mounted on the ceiling and therefore docking can be performed from the lateral side of the patient. If docking from the lateral side of the patient can be performed, the robot does not lie over the patient’s head, ensuring that a space is available near the head of the patient for the anesthesiologist.

For the endotracheal intubation tube, if there is no lung invasion, a single-lumen tube can be used. However, if there is suspected tumor invasion of the lungs, a double-lumen tube is chosen to enable differential lung ventilation. When establishing artificial ventilation, pressure control ventilation delivered at the minimal intratracheal pressure is used to ensure sufficient ventilation. PEEP is not used as it inflates the lungs and disturbs the operative field. CO₂ insufflation in the mediastinum at 8 mmHg provides a good operative field by maintaining lung ventilation and eliminating pressure moderately on the bilateral lungs.

In CO₂ insufflation, when using suction, the supplied CO₂ is aspired, which inflates the lungs and worsens the surgical operative field. As an alternative to suction, a gauze roll should be placed in the mediastinum to wipe up blood as required. The AirSeal system (SurgiQuest, Milford, CT, USA) is a CO₂ insufflation system with which suction can be used, and thus might be useful for robotic surgery.

In the event that pulling the thymus is desired to enlarge the operative field, the assistant does so by inserting forceps with an articulated tip through the subxiphoid port; however, if this is difficult to do, then an additional port can be placed on the lateral chest. Although we do not use this practice, if necessary, a 4^th robotic arm may be used.