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Telesurgical evaluation of stable thoracic trauma patients: a feasibility study

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European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

We evaluated a robotic telesurgical platform in managing thoracic trauma in an animal model.

Study design

The da Vinci® robot was used to evaluate and treat a random number of blinded injuries in ten porcine thoraces.

Results

Ninety-five percent of injuries were correctly identified. The median survey time was 20.5 min (range 16–63 min). The mean time to repair lung lacerations was 19.8 min (range 14–27.5 min) and to evacuate the hemothoraces, it was 5.3 min (range 4.5–6.5 min). Diaphragmatic lacerations required repositioning of the ports and the robot. Only two out of five lacerations were successfully repaired (mean time 38.8 min, range 32.5–45 min). All aortic injuries were correctly identified. One subject died of a pre-existing pneumonia.

Conclusions

A robotic telesurgical approach to the evaluation of stable thoracic trauma patients is safe and feasible in a porcine model. Diaphragmatic injuries can be repaired but require repositioning of the robot.

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Acknowledgments

The expertise of Ms. Sherri Van Lingen, Mr. Dave Harrison, Mr. Dave Browning, and the staff at CSTAR was invaluable in the conduction of these experiments. Supported by the Lawson Health Research Institute Internal Research Fund #IRF-094-04.

Conflict of interest

The authors did not receive financial, property, or intellectual aid from any commercial source. The authors had full control of the design of the study, methods used, outcome parameters, analysis of data, and production of the written report.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Thoracic Surgery, London Health Sciences Centre, 800 Commissioners Rd. East, Suite E2-124, London, ON, N6A 5W9, Canada

    P. D. Bhatia, D. A. Bottoni & R. A. Malthaner

Authors
  1. P. D. Bhatia
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  2. D. A. Bottoni
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  3. R. A. Malthaner
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. A. Malthaner.

Additional information

Originally presented as a poster at the Canadian Association of Thoracic Surgeons (CATS) Canadian Surgical Forum, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, 13 September 2008.

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Bhatia, P.D., Bottoni, D.A. & Malthaner, R.A. Telesurgical evaluation of stable thoracic trauma patients: a feasibility study. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 37, 297–303 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-011-0094-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-011-0094-5

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