Robot-Assisted Pericardial Drainage

Abstract

Background:The feasibility, safety, and efficacy of robot-assisted pericardial drainage (RAPD) with the da Vinci Surgical System were evaluated.Methods: Subjects with pericardial effusions (PE) who were treated with RAPD were included for study.Patients with tamponade physiology with hemodynamic instability and altered respiratory function were excluded.Data regarding the ability to perform RAPD, operation time, hospital stay, need for additional incision, morbidity, and outcome were evaluated.Results: A single operator attempted RAPD for 5 cases.There were no pericardial tamponade and the effusion was diffuse in all patients.Three of patients had previously undergone pericardiocenthesis.All cases completed without conversion to thoracotomy.No operative complication and no in-hospital mortality were observed.The post-operative courses were uneventful and patients were discharged between post-operative days 7 and 14. Conclusion:In spite of the small sample size, this study presents, for the first time, the successful use of da Vinci Surgical System for both diagnostic confirmation and therapeutic relief of pericardial fluid drainage.