Robotic right lower lobectomy following neoadjuvant nivolumab combined with platinum-based chemotherapy.

Abstract

Despite the prognostic benefits for patients, surgical resection following nivolumab combined with platinum-based chemotherapy is technically challenging due to the inflammation or fibrosis in the thoracic cavity, particularly around the hilar structures. Performing this complex surgical resection using a minimally invasive approach requires the advantages offered by robotic surgery, including a high-definition 3-dimensional surgical view, precise, tremor-free motion and articulated forceps, which facilitate safe resection following neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy. In this video tutorial, we demonstrate a robotic right lower lobectomy performed after neoadjuvant nivolumab combined with platinum-based chemotherapy, highlighting the specific techniques and nuances involved. The console time was 138 minutes, with minimal blood loss. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful; the chest tube was removed on postoperative day (POD) 1, and the patient was discharged on POD 2. The final pathological report revealed pTisN0M0, stage 0, squamous cell carcinoma.