Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery are feasible approaches with potential advantages in minimally invasive mediastinal lesions resection

BACKGROUND: This study aims to identify the feasibility of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) compared with multiportal VATS in the resection of mediastinal lesions. METHODS: Patients who underwent mediastinal lesion resection were enrolled and allocated to the uni-VATS, tri-VATS, and RATS groups according to the surgical approach. Propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis was performed between the VATS and RATS groups as well as the uni-VATS and tri-VATS groups. The operative and recovery parameters were compared. RESULTS: Totally, 274 patients were enrolled. There was no difference in the operative parameters among the groups. Compared with multiportal VATS, uniportal VATS and RATS had a significantly shorter chest tube placement time (2.43±0.88 vs. 1.78±1.22 vs. 2.21±1.11 days, P