Robotic-assisted versus video-assisted thoracoscopic anatomical lung resection for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Mathias Johow Reichert, Nicolás Urnía, Antonio Jofré et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis compared robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for anatomical lung resection in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Analyzing 28 studies with 68,349 participants, RATS demonstrated fewer conversions to thoracotomy (OR 0.54; 95% CI 0.50-0.58) and shorter hospital stays (MD -0.33 days; -0.61 to -0.06).
Key findings
- RATS had fewer conversions to thoracotomy compared to VATS (OR 0.54; 95% CI 0.50-0.58).
- Patients undergoing RATS experienced a shorter hospital stay (MD -0.33 days; -0.61 to -0.06).
- RATS resulted in greater lymph node retrieval (MD 0.82; 95% CI 0.35-1.30).
- Survival endpoints could not be pooled due to substantial heterogeneity.
Why it matters
Understanding the comparative effectiveness of RATS and VATS is crucial for optimizing surgical approaches in early-stage NSCLC, potentially influencing surgical decision-making and patient outcomes.
What to keep in mind
Heterogeneity among studies was substantial and largely unexplained, limiting the certainty of the findings.