CT scans revealed a 3 cm tumor in the upper left lung lobe, located close to the aorta and pulmonary vein. Associate Professor Dr. Vu Huu Vinh, Director of the Center for Thoracic and Vascular Surgery at Tam Anh General Hospital, TP HCM, noted that traditional open surgery for such cases would be highly invasive. Endoscopic procedures, he added, are often challenging in confined spaces, risking damage to blood vessels. The surgical team opted for Da Vinci Xi robotic surgery combined with a frozen section biopsy. This approach allowed for immediate tumor evaluation and radical treatment in a single procedure, reducing risks for the patient and promoting quicker recovery.

While the robot dissected the tumor, doctors sent a tissue sample to the Pathology Center for rapid freezing at -20 to -50 degrees Celsius and microscopic examination. Within 40 minutes, the results confirmed a malignant tumor, prompting the team to remove it immediately during the same operation.

Due to the tumor's proximity to major blood vessels in the lung, which posed a risk of bleeding during dissection, the team utilized an electric-powered mechanical stapler (Echelon Flex Powered Stapler). This device employs micro titanium staples to seal lung tissue, ensuring immediate hemostasis and minimizing the risk of complications.

After three hours of surgery, the malignant tumor was completely removed. Thanks to the minimally invasive "2-in-1" surgical technique, the patient recovered quickly, being discharged after four days.

The surgical team performed lung tumor removal for Huong using the Da Vinci Xi robot. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

Associate Professor Vinh advises adults to undergo regular health check-ups for early disease detection. For lung cancer, early stage detection and intervention with high-tech methods, such as robotics, can completely remove tumors, leading to a good prognosis for patients.

Bao Anh

*Patient's name has been changed.