Background: Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a pathological condition caused by a narrowing between the clavicle and first rib leading to a compression of the neurovascular bundle to the upper extremity. The incidence of TOS is probably nowadays underestimated because the diagnosis could be very challenging without a thorough clinical examination along with appropriate clinical testing. Beside traditional supra-, infraclavicular or transaxillary approaches, the robotic assisted first rib resection has been gaining importance in the last few years.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of all patients who underwent robotic assisted first rib resection due to TOS at Lucerne Cantonal Hospital and then we performed a narrative review of the English literature using PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Scopus.
Results: Between June 2020 and November 2021, eleven robotic assisted first rib resections were performed due to TOS at Lucerne Cantonal Hospital. Median length of stay was 2 days (Standard Deviation: +/- 0.67 days). Median surgery time was 180 min (Standard Deviation: +/- 36.5). No intra-operative complications were reported.
Conclusions: Robotic assisted first rib resection could represent a safe and feasible option in expert hands for the treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome.
Keywords: first rib resection; robotic assisted resection; robotic thoracic surgery (RATS); thoracic outlet; thoracic outlet syndrome.
Copyright © 2022 Gkikas, Lampridis, Patrini, Kestenholz, Azenha, Kocher, Scarci and Minervini.