Comparison of Single Port and Two Ports Robotic Assisted Thoracic Surgery for Thymectomy

Randomized Open Label Two Arms Cohort Study to Evaluate Curative Effect and Quality of Life of Single Port and Two Ports Robotic Assisted Thoracic Surgery for Thymectomy

Recently, robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) has become into as an alternative approach to either, open surgery or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The superiorities of RATS have been reported in series studies, such as intuitive movements, tremor filtration, more degrees of manipulative freedom, motion scaling, and high-definition stereoscopic vision.

However, the currently reported robotic thymectomy used 3 ports. Theoretically, less incisions may bring faster postoperative recovery, lighter postoperative pain and higher postoperative quality of life. The investigators have successfully performed robotic thymectomy through 2 ports and even 1 port. However, the potential benefit of less ports robotic thymectomy has not been verified through well-designed cohort study, so this clinical trial has been designed.

The gold standard technique for thymectomy used to be transsternal approach. Advancements in modern technology bring many evolutions in minimally invasive surgery such as Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) thymectomy gained popularity after 2000s. Recently, robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) has become into as an alternative approach to either, open surgery or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The superiorities of RATS have been reported in series studies, such as intuitive movements, tremor filtration, more degrees of manipulative freedom, motion scaling, and high-definition stereoscopic vision.

However, the currently reported robotic thymectomy used 3 ports. Theoretically, less incisions may bring faster postoperative recovery, lighter postoperative pain and higher postoperative quality of life. The investigators have successfully performed robotic thymectomy through 2 ports and even 1 port. However, the potential benefit of less ports robotic thymectomy has not been verified through well-designed cohort study, so this clinical trial has been designed.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with Myasthenia Gravis and(or) thymoma need to perform thymectomy.
2. Agree to accept Robotic Assisted Thoracic Surgery and have signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Cardiopulmonary function cannot tolerate thoracoscopic surgery or exist other contraindication.
2. Thymic carcinoma.
3. Thoracic deformity.