Surgeons at Loma Linda University Medical Center – Murrieta last month performed their first robotic-assisted thoracic surgery, bringing the procedure to Southwest Riverside County for the first time.
A surgical team used a robot to make four incisions, each less than a centimeter in length, to remove a benign mass in a patient’s chest cavity. The procedure is much less invasive than the historical approach, which would involve an incision of up to 10 inches and the spreading and possible breaking of ribs to treat the affected area.
The procedure utilizes small incisions, 3D high-definition visualization, and highly dexterous, articulated instruments, allowing surgeons to operate with exceptional precision.
During the procedure, the surgeon operates from a console located near the patient, controlling robotic arms to perform intricate thoracic surgeries such as lobectomies, wedge resections, and thymectomies.
Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery offers numerous benefits, including reduced blood loss, fewer infections, minimal scarring, and shorter hospital stays — typically one to three days. Patients also experience a faster recovery, with many returning to normal activities within two to three weeks.
Ahmed Hozain, MD, who performed the procedure, said this new, minimally invasive approach is better for the patient because they experience less pain, they can go home sooner, and they don’t have a hard time breathing, which often happens because of broken ribs.
“I think it’s great for us to be offering this type of world-class care for patients here in this community,” Hozain said. ‘Before now, they would have to travel a long way to another city to get this type of procedure done. They can get it performed here locally.”
Learn more about cardiothoracic services at Loma Linda University Medical Center – Murrieta on its website.