Lucas W. Thornblade
City Of Hope National Medical Center, University of California, San Francisco
Papers
3
Total Citations
42
H-Index
3
About
Lucas W. Thornblade is a pioneering surgical researcher whose work is reshaping the landscape of minimally invasive and robotic hepatobiliary surgery. His primary research areas include simulation-based training for robotic surgery, the standardization of minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy, and the advancement of ambulatory robotic hepatectomy. Thornblade’s major contributions lie in demonstrating that complex procedures traditionally requiring prolonged hospital stays can be safely transitioned to outpatient or extended recovery settings. His multinational study of 307 robotic hepatectomy cases (2024) is a landmark achievement, challenging the dogma that liver surgery is an “incision-dominant” procedure requiring inpatient admission. Additionally, his 2021 paper on simulation-based training in robotic surgery, with 33 citations, provides a critical framework for the next generation of surgeons adapting to console-based techniques. His 2025 analysis of minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy trends in the U.S. further underscores his commitment to evidence-based standardization. With a growing citation impact and a focus on transforming surgical paradigms, Thornblade is a leading voice in the movement toward safer, more efficient, and patient-centered robotic surgery.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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