Comparing Robot-assisted and Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Thymoma A Multicenter Randomized Study on Short- and Long-Term Outcomes

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the potential benefits of robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery RATS compared to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery VATS for treating thymoma, a tumor in the thymus gland. This multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial aims to assess both short-term clinical outcomes and long-term survival benefits of these two minimally invasive surgical methods. The study focuses on whether RATS can achieve outcomes as effective as those from VATS in patients with thymic epithelial tumors. The trial compares two surgical approaches RATS and VATS thymectomy. Both procedures involve minimally invasive surgery to remove the thymus and surrounding tissue. The surgeries follow similar principles, including careful dissection to avoid nerve damage, removal of the thymus tumor, and postoperative care involving chest tubes and catheters. The study includes a randomized assignment to either RATS or VATS groups to evaluate differences in operating time, blood loss, complications, and recovery. Participants will be followed for several years after surgery to monitor outcomes, including 5-year overall survival, disease-free survival, tumor recurrence, and quality of life. Additional assessments will include pain scores, hospital stay duration, drainage volume, catheterization days, and postoperative complications within 30 days after surgery. The study also evaluates operative details and short-term recovery measures to compare the two surgical techniques comprehensively.

Robot-assisted vs VATS for Thymoma