Robot-assisted surgery for posterior mediastinal mass

In the last decade, robotic surgery is increasingly becoming an essential instrument in the hands of thoracic surgeons. Indeed, the Robotic Surgical Systems (da Vinci, Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA), particularly the latest models, the SI system and the latest XI system, are used to perform lung resection and exeresis of mediastinal lesions (1-3). Thanks to their features it is possible to work in a comfortable and secure manner in narrow spaces, such as the anterior mediastinum, or in remote areas, such as the posterior mediastinum or the costal-phrenic areas. Robotic surgery allows a mini-invasive approach overcoming the limits that characterize video-assisted thoracic surgery (e.g., complex manoeuverability of the instruments in close or deep spaces, 2-dimensional and limited vision). As a matter of fact, surgical procedures are easier thanks to the 3D magnified vision, the surgeon’s direct control of the camera, the possibility to have instruments with a large range of articulation and movements, the filtration of the physiological tremor of the hands (4,5).