Study Comparing Bronchoscopic Navigation Robot and Electromagnetic Navigation for Dye Marking in Thoracoscopic Lung Nodule Removal A Prospective, Randomized Clinical Trial

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating methods to assist surgeons in accurately locating small lung nodules during thoracoscopic surgery. With increased detection of pulmonary nodules by low-dose spiral CT scans, surgical removal is preferred. The study compares two techniques for marking these nodules before surgery one using a bronchoscopic navigation robot and the other using an electromagnetic navigation system. The goal is to determine if the robot-guided method is as successful as the electromagnetic system and to explore potential benefits like easier operation and shorter surgery times. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. In the experimental group, surgeons use a bronchoscopic navigation robot guided by a 3D lung image from preoperative CT scans to inject a dye marker near the nodule. In the control group, a conventional electromagnetic navigation bronchoscope guides dye injection based on a virtual bronchial map. After dye marking, all patients undergo video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery to remove the nodules, starting with sub-lobar resection and possibly extending based on intraoperative findings. During the study, researchers will assess how often the dye marking successfully locates the nodules, the need for additional tissue removal, surgery duration, hospital stay length, and any complications from the dye marking. Participants will be monitored throughout their hospital stay, which can last from 1 to 30 days. The study is conducted at a single center and aims to provide a new, efficient, and safe method for pulmonary nodule localization.

Bronchoscopic Navigation Robot-guided Dye Marking-assisted Thoracoscopic Pulmonary Nodule Resection