[Robot-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Lung Cancer]

As surgical robots have widely spread, verification of their usefulness in the general thoracic surgery field is required. The most favorable advantage of robotic surgery is the markedly free movement of joint-equipped robotic forceps under three-dimensional high-vision. Accurate operation makes complex procedures straightforward and may overcome weak points of previous thoracoscopic surgery. Robotic surgery for lung cancer has been safely introduced and initial results have shown favorable. It is still at the stage of clinical research, but is expected to take its usefulness in the procedure of hilar exposure, lymph node dissection and the suturing of lung parenchyma or bronchus. The evidence is insufficient for robotic thoracic surgery, and also safety management, education and significant cost are larger problems. Now, urgent issues are to carry out clinical trial for advanced medical care and insurance acquisition.