Robotic Thoracic Surgery

Robotically-assisted Lung Surgery

To perform robotically-assisted lung surgery, your surgeon uses the da Vinci® Xi robotic surgery system. The Xi system provides unparalleled views of the surgical area using a high-definition 3D camera, along with precise control of miniaturized instruments that are inserted through small incisions.

Lung surgery expertise

Our highly skilled cardiothoracic team is led by nationally renowned thoracic surgeon Richard Chang, MD.  Chang is dual board-certified in surgery, and thoracic and cardiac surgery, and was the first surgeon in Philadelphia to perform a robotic complete endoscopic lobectomy and pneumonectomy in 2010. He also performs robotic complete endoscopic esophagectomy, robotic anterior mediastinal tumor excision and robotic radical thymectomy for myasthenia gravis.

Robotic surgery system features

The Xi is optimized for thoracic surgery, offering maneuverability, control and precision while working in multiple quadrants of the body without having to undock the robot.

• The system offers enhanced visualization, with 10 to 20 times magnification.
• It also features Firefly Fluorescence Imaging, which provides enhanced real-time visualization of blood vessels and tissue perfusion.
• The imaging and surgical tools are inserted through small incisions.

How lung surgery patients benefit from robotic surgery

Robotic cardiothoracic surgery offers numerous benefits to patients, including less pain and blood loss, and a faster recovery.  Post-operative hospital stays average two to four days, as opposed to at least five days with traditional surgical approaches.  Generally, patients return to normal activities within two weeks. 

LVHN has two Xi Surgical Systems. Robotic surgery is offered at six LVHN hospitals across 10 service lines. The network has one of the largest programs in the country with more robotic procedures completed than anyone else on the region.