Robotic Lung Cancer & Thoracic Surgery

Minimally Invasive Approaches

Formalized more than ten years ago, our minimally invasive lung surgery program offers the vast majority of our patients an enhanced surgical experience with improved outcomes and shorter hospital stays. While caring for both elective and urgent patients, our team performs a wide variety of thoracic surgeries, including:

Lobectomy
Pneumonectomy
Segmentectomy
Wedge Resection
Lymphadectomy
Pericardial Window
Pleurodesis
Thymectomy
Pulmonary Decortication
Mediastinoscopy
Bronchoscopy
Biopsies of tumors, masses & pleura

More than 1,500 thoracic surgeries have been performed over the last three years.

Robotic Lobectomy

Utilizing the latest robotic model, the da Vinci Xi® Surgical System, our team offers patients in need of a lobectomy the opportunity to undergo surgery with an enhanced recovery experience. Robotic lobectomy offers patients shorter hospital stays, shorter chest tube duration, lower rates of transfusions and smaller incisions for less scarring.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and robotic approaches offer our patients surgery without the need for large incisions.

Top Tier Lobectomy Program

Shipley Cardiothoracic Center is designated a 3-star program, the highest rating possible, by the society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for their surgical treatment and postoperative care of patients undergoing lobectomy for lung cancer placing them in the top 10% in the nation. STS is the gold standard for medical specialty outcomes databases.

98% of lobectomies are performed via a minimally invasive approach

Thoracic Oncology & Early Detection

In conjunction with community partners, our lung cancer screening program has identified patients with cancer at a lower stage and has resulted in earlier treatment and improved prognosis. Cases are reviewed on a monthly basis as part of our thoracic oncology conference. Through close coordination among pulmonologists, oncologists, surgeons and our navigators, our patients can be assured they are receiving the most comprehensive evaluations possible.

Robotic Surgery for Lung Cancer

Lung cancer can be a silent killer. “Lung cancer is a very deadly disease. It kills more people in United States than any other type of cancer. Cancer screening is essential for people that smoke or have smoked recently,” said Cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. David Cervantes.

While it can be asymptomatic, coughing up blood, chronic cough, weight loss and fatigue can be signs. Treatment and prognosis greatly depend on when it’s caught and if it has spread. “If they are in an early stage of lung cancer, then a resection is often all that is needed. However, if it’s a more advanced form of lung cancer, a resection is part of the multidisciplinary plan to include chemotherapy or radiation,” said Dr. Cervantes.

If caught early, Cardiothoracic surgeons can remove the cancerous part of the lung with the help of a state-of-the-art robot. “We are able to go in with small incisions and then the surgeon steps away to the consult. Where we are able to use the robotic arm to resect the lung cancer instead of making bigger incisions that were traditionally used,” said Dr. Cervantes.

This minimally invasive approach benefits the patient above all else. “The main benefits of this is less pain, short or recovery. Usually, shorter hospital stays and less blood use than traditional surgeries that requires a thoracotomy,” said Dr. Cervantes.

In the right patient, this surgery can be curative. You can learn more about lung cancer and screenings by searching for it on leehealth.org.

Robotic Lung Cancer & Thoracic Surgery

Minimally Invasive Approaches

Robotic Lobectomy

Top Tier Lobectomy Program

Thoracic Oncology & Early Detection

Robotic Surgery for Lung Cancer

Learn More About Lung Cancer Screening

Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer Screening Program

Pages in this section