It treats all primary pulmonary neoplasms, from the initial stage to the advanced stage, after chemotherapy and induction radiotherapy, the resectable pulmonary neoplasms extended to the large vessels, the trachea, the thoracic wall, performs removal of metastases to the lung, offers video- and mini-invasive access for all diagnostic needs in thoracic oncology and for all benign neoplasms of the lung, the mediastinum and the esophagus. The new outpatient clinic opened by Humanitas in viale Premuda deals with all the problems of surgical interest in the thoracic district and carries out its clinical activity mainly in the field of primary and metastatic lung neoplasms. We asked Dr. Giulia Veronesi, Head of the Robotic Surgery Section of the Thoracic Surgery Unit at Humanitas, to tell us about the services offered by the facility.
What does the thoracic surgery have to offer?
Directly connected with the Humanitas hospital in Rozzano, the clinic in Via Premuda works in close collaboration with the Medical Oncology Unit and with Radiotherapy which, for the treatment of advanced primary pulmonary neoplasms, is among the top ten specialist centers in Italy, as well as in advanced cancer surgery. For the removal, wherever possible, of lung metastases, the centre uses the most modern receptive techniques using lasers. For the minimally invasive procedures, on the other hand, the different possibilities from the traditional manual minimally invasive to the robotic minimally invasive are adopted, depending on the case.
For the treatment of advanced primary pulmonary neoplasms, the Thoracic Surgery section is among the top ten Italian specialist centers. For the removal, where possible, of lung metastases, the Humanitas hospital in Rozzano uses the most modern techniques, including those that use lasers. In the same hospital, different surgical approaches are adopted for minimally invasive procedures, depending on the case: from traditional minimally invasive to minimally invasive robotic surgery.
“The thoracic surgery deals with all the problems of surgical interest in the thoracic district – explained the expert – In particular, it deals with the treatment of primary pulmonary neoplasms from the initial stage to the advanced stage to those resectable extended to the large vessels, the trachea, the thoracic wall. Surgically we treat the pulmonary metastases that must be removed completely”.
Robotic Surgery Department as part of the Thoracic Surgery Unit
The Robotic Surgery Section of the Thoracic Surgery Unit performs at the Humanitas Hospital in Rozzano:
They are performed inside the clinic:
– videothoracoscopy and minimally invasive access for all diagnostic needs in thoracic oncology, for all benign neoplasms of the lung, the mediastinum and the esophagus;
– Minimally invasive lung lobectomies (VATS or robotics) or open muscle sparing for stage I primary malignant neoplasms or benign diseases;
– surgery of both benign and malignant mediastinal neoplasms; corrective surgery of sternum malformations with minimally invasive methods where possible or traditional;
– videotoracoscopy for spontaneous pneumothorax, which is often associated with a partial pleurectomy to minimize the risk of recurrence;
– videotoracoscopy for thoracic sympathectomy for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis and Raynaud’s syndrome;
– operative thoracic endoscopy with rigid endoscope for tracheo-bronchial de-instructions and positioning of stents and removal of foreign bodies from the respiratory tree.
The advantages of robotic surgery
Robotic surgery is a minimally invasive technique that involves the use of miniaturized surgical instruments to make incisions of a few millimeters. “When performing surgery with the most advanced surgical robot on the market, “da Vinci”, added the specialist, “these miniaturized instruments are mounted on three separate robotic arms, allowing the surgeon maximum freedom of movement and precision; the fourth arm contains a 3D camera that provides a high-definition magnified image that helps the surgeon during the procedure.
The surgeon is then able to simultaneously control all four arms of the robot as he looks through a high-definition stereoscopic monitor that literally places it inside the patient, giving him a much more detailed 3D view of the operating field than the human eye can provide. Using this advanced technology, surgeons are able to perform more complex procedures than manual videothoracoscopy while maintaining extreme dissection accuracy and ensuring excellent surgical radicality.
On the other hand, patients have a number of advantages over traditional surgery in terms of fewer traumas to the body and faster recovery time with a minimized period of hospitalization.
