Robotic Lung Surgery

Quick facts

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What is it for?

Treats lung cancer and other lesions through minimally invasive, advanced techniques

Related conditions

Early stage lung cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK. Early stage lung cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms, but it requires treatment.

Late stage lung cancer

Late stage lung cancer is the most advanced lung cancer and occurs when the disease has spread beyond the lungs to other areas of the body.

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive cancer that is typically caused by exposure to asbestos fibres. Early detection is key for effective treatment.

Non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common form of lung cancer, accounting for approximately 85% of all lung cancer cases.

Small cell lung cancer

Small cell lung cancer occurs when healthy cells in the lungs become cancerous and begin to multiply quickly.

Thymic cancer

Thymic cancer is rare, but it can occur and requires early diagnosis and treatment.

Thymoma

Thymomas are a type of thymic cancer that causes tumours to develop in your thymus gland (a gland between your lungs and behind your breastbone).

What is robotic lung surgery?

Robotic lung surgery is used to treat patients with lung cancer and other lesions, whether benign or malignant. It is a form of keyhole surgery that enables the surgeon to operate with enhanced precision through a few small incisions, rather than one large cut.

Minimally invasive lung cancer surgery therefore results in reduced pain, bleeding, a shorter stay in hospital and a lower risk of complications.

At The London Clinic Lung Centre, our world-class surgeons use computer-enhanced robotic technology called the da Vinci surgical system. This system enables our surgeons to view the lungs in high-definition 3D format. The computer-enhanced robot mimics the movement of a human hand, but with a greater range of movement and accuracy.

Team at TLC in theatres using the da vinci machine

Why might I need robotic lung surgery?

Due to its precision, lung robotic surgery is often recommended for patients with early stage lung cancer.

Initially, you may undergo a course of radiotherapy to shrink the tumour, after which robotic lung surgery can be used to remove the remaining tumour.

Request an appointment Call us on 0208 108 9624

A consultant and patient looking at a scan on the screen, discussing treatment options for lung concerns

Diagnostics we offer

Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)

An EBUS is an advanced diagnostic method which provides a precise, real-time assessment of the lungs, lymph nodes and surrounding structures.

Low-dose CT for lung cancer screening

Low-dose computed tomography is used for the early detection of lung cancer, when treatment is most effective.

Lung Health Check

A comprehensive service designed to assess your lung function, identify early signs of lung disease including lung cancer, and provide personalised advice.

PET-CT scans

PET and CT scans are advanced imaging techniques used to look for disease, inflammation or infection in your body.

Rapid molecular diagnostics

Molecular diagnostics can help us to personalise your treatment plan by detecting: driver mutations, RNA fusions, immunotherapy markers, drug resistance.

Video-assisted thoracoscopy and mediastinoscopy

Video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) and mediastinoscopy are surgical techniques used to diagnose and treat various chest conditions, including lung cancer.

What to expect from Robotic lung surgery

A consultant talking through a document with a patient

Step 1

Preparing for robotic lung surgery

Ahead of your surgery, you’ll receive clear instructions to follow. This may include fasting for a set period, stopping certain medications as advised by your surgical team, and quitting smoking to support your recovery. You’ll also need to prepare for a short hospital stay by packing essentials for your time in the hospital.

A consultant in scrubs using the da Vinci robot for surgery purposes. The consultants face is hidden as they are facing the console.

Step 2

What happens during robotic lung surgery

You’ll be placed under general anaesthetic, so you’ll be asleep and won’t feel anything. Your surgeon will make small incisions between your ribs to insert robotic instruments and a camera. Using precise hand movements, they will guide the robot to remove the damaged lung tissue. Before finishing, they will insert a chest tube to drain any excess air or fluid, which will stay in place for a few days.

Step 3

Recovery and aftercare

After surgery, you’ll be monitored as you wake up before being moved to your room. Your care team will manage your pain and monitor your progress. Since robotic surgery is minimally invasive, your recovery is usually quicker than with open lung surgery. Once home, you’ll need to rest, but most patients regain their strength within two to three weeks.

Why choose The London Clinic Lung Centre?

World-class lung treatment

At The London Clinic Lung Centre, our specialists work at the forefront of cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment advancements. Not only do they have a comprehensive understanding of the latest techniques, but they are also the researchers driving them forward. As a result, you can rely on The London Clinic Lung Centre for exceptional care for chest conditions.

Personal care, every time

Exceptional patient care is at the heart of everything we do. Our teams will be with you every step of the way, providing timely results and a tailored care plan. To ensure the highest standards of care, we maintain a low staff-to-patient ratio, allowing our team to offer a truly personalised experience that considers the needs of both the patient and their family. Our goal is to foster the trust and confidence of our patients.

Effortlessly simple

Our multidisciplinary teams and specialists work as one to guide you through every step of your patient experience. From explaining your personalised treatment plan to managing every detail, we ensure a stress-free process, so that you can focus on healing. Whether it is your first consultation or follow-up care, our teams are here to provide the streamlined, comprehensive care you deserve.

Related experts

Mr David Lawrence

Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon

BSc(Hons) MBBS FRCS FRCS MS

Robotic lung surgery FAQs

All surgical procedures come with risks, which your surgeon will explain to you. With robotic lung surgery, the risks include:

Blood clots
Infection
Bleeding
Abnormal heart rhythms
Leaking air from your lungs
Pain

However, robotic-assisted surgery is generally considered less risky than open surgery.

Thanks to the precision of the da Vinci robotic technology, minimally invasive surgery offers several advantages over conventional open surgery, including:

Reduced pain
Smaller incisions
Minimal scarring
Shorter stay in hospital
Less blood loss
Lower risk of infections
Fewer complications
Faster recovery time

The duration of robotic lung surgery depends on the type of technique used, which varies based on the condition being treated. However, most robotic lung surgery procedures take between one and three hours.

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is a minimally invasive alternative to lung surgery. Some preliminary research indicates that robotic lung surgery offers similar long-term outcomes but with lower complication rates compared to VATS.

Step 1. Preparing for robotic lung surgery

Before your surgery, you will be given instructions to follow ahead of your surgery date. These will include:

Fasting – you will be asked to stop eating and drinking (except water) for a certain amount of time prior to your surgery.
Stopping certain medications – your surgical team will review the medications you currently take and advise you on any that you should stop taking prior to your surgery.
Quitting smoking – smoking reduces blood flow, which can slow your recovery. Smoking can also contribute to other post-surgical complications and cause future health issues. As a result, it is important to quit smoking well in advance of your surgery.
Preparing for a short stay in hospital – you will normally need to stay in hospital for a few days following robotic lung surgery, so make sure you pack a bag with anything you might need until you go home.

Step 2. During robotic lung surgery

Before your surgery begins, you will be placed under a general anaesthetic. This means you’ll be asleep during the procedure and will not feel any discomfort. A breathing tube will be inserted into your airway to allow each lung to be separately inflated during surgery.

Your surgeon will make between one and five small incisions between your ribs and place the instruments and the camera attached to the robot into the incisions. Using a nearby computer, your surgeon will view a 360-degree image of the surgical area and direct the robot with their own hand movements to remove the damaged lung tissue.

Towards the end of the procedure, your surgeon will insert a chest tube through one of the incisions to drain any excess air or fluid from your lungs. This tube will remain in place for several days and will be removed by your care team as you recover.

Step 3. Recovery and aftercare

Once the procedure is complete, you will be monitored as you wake up from the anaesthetic. You will then be transferred to your room, where you will stay until you are well enough to be discharged from the hospital. Since this is minimally invasive surgery, this process should be quicker compared to open lung surgery.

While you are in the hospital, your care team will monitor your condition, ensuring you are recovering well and are not in too much pain after robotic lung surgery.

Once you return home, you will need to rest to allow your body to continue recovering effectively. You will regain your strength and energy within two to three weeks.