100 anastomoses: a two-year single-center experience with robotic-assisted micro- and supermicrosurgery for lymphatic reconstruction.

Journal: Journal of robotic surgery
PMID:

Abstract

Robotic-assisted microsurgery has gained significant attention in recent years following the introduction of two dedicated microsurgical robotic systems specifically designed for this purpose. These feature higher degrees of movement and motion scaling which are useful tools, especially when performing surgery in areas of the body which are difficult to access. Robotic-assisted microsurgery has been implemented in lymphatic surgery as well as soft tissue reconstructive surgery at our institution over the past 2.5 years. Our study gives an insight into the details and outcomes of the first 100 consecutive (super-) microsurgical anastomoses in peripheral and central lymphatic reconstruction performed with the Symani Surgical System between 2021 and 2024. In total, 67 patients were treated, receiving robotic-assisted lymphatic reconstruction with lymphatic tissue transfer (LTT) and/or lymphovenous anastomoses (LVA)/lympholymphatic anastomoses (LLA). No anastomosis-associated complications were recorded postoperatively. The majority of patients reported a postoperative improvement of their lymphedema or central lymphatic disorder. In conclusion, we show the successful implementation of the Symani Surgical System into our clinical practice of lymphatic reconstruction. Although the necessary intraoperative setup and the use of intrinsic motion scaling lead to a slight increase in operating time, the presented study demonstrates the advantages of robotic assistance which becomes particularly evident in lymphatic surgery due to the involved deep surgical sites and the need for supermicrosurgical techniques.

Authors

  • Donata von Reibnitz
    Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), Raemistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
  • Andrea Weinzierl
    Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), Raemistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
  • Carlotta Barbon
    Klinik für Plastische Chirurgie und Handchirurgie, Universitätsspital Zürich, Rämistr. 100, 8091, Zürich, Schweiz.
  • Christian A Gutschow
    Department of Visceral Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), Raemistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
  • Pietro Giovanoli
    Klinik für Plastische Chirurgie und Handchirurgie, Universitätsspital Zürich, Rämistr. 100, 8091, Zürich, Schweiz.
  • Lisanne Grünherz
    Klinik für Plastische Chirurgie und Handchirurgie, Universitätsspital Zürich, Rämistr. 100, 8091, Zürich, Schweiz.
  • Nicole Lindenblatt
    Klinik für Plastische Chirurgie und Handchirurgie, Universitätsspital Zürich, Rämistr. 100, 8091, Zürich, Schweiz. nicole.lindenblatt@usz.ch.