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Transabdominal robot-assisted diaphragmatic plication: a 3.5-year experience

Diaphragmatic paralysis, a known cause of dyspnoea, can drastically reduce breathing efficiency, diminishing quality of life. We report our 3.5-year experience with 22 consecutive patients who underwent transabdominal, robot-assisted diaphragmatic plication for diaphragmatic paralysis. We retrospect...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery 2018-01, Vol.53 (1), p.247-253
Main Authors: Biswas Roy, Sreeja, Haworth, Cassandra, Ipsen, Taylor, Kang, Paul, Hill, David, Do, Annie, Kuo, Elbert
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Diaphragmatic paralysis, a known cause of dyspnoea, can drastically reduce breathing efficiency, diminishing quality of life. We report our 3.5-year experience with 22 consecutive patients who underwent transabdominal, robot-assisted diaphragmatic plication for diaphragmatic paralysis. We retrospectively reviewed 22 consecutive patients who underwent this procedure by a single surgeon from 5 September 2012 to 12 May 2016. The primary outcome measure was change in dyspnoea severity, which was measured with the 5-point Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale (a score of 5 indicates breathlessness so severe, the individual is homebound). Of the 22 patients who underwent robotic diaphragmatic plication, 17 (77.3%) patients were male. Median body mass index was 30 kg/m2 (range 24.2-42.17 kg/m2). Most plications (13 of 22, 59.1%) were left sided; one (4.6%) was bilateral. Median operating time was 161 min (range 107-293 min), but this time was higher for the first 3 procedures (255 min, range 239-293 min). Median length of stay was 2 days, and median time to chest tube removal was 1 day. At follow-up, 20 of the 22 (91%) patients reported improved breathing and 2 reported no change. No patient reported worsened dyspnoea. The median Medical Research Council score changed from 4.0 preoperatively to 2.0 postoperatively (P = 0.001). Transabdominal robotic diaphragmatic plication involves small incisions but improves surgical dexterity. Surgical times are reasonable, and this surgical technique can be adopted with a quick but steep learning curve. Early results show good functional outcomes.
ISSN:1010-7940
1873-734X
DOI:10.1093/ejcts/ezx255