ReviewInterdisciplinary cardiovascular and thoracic surgery2026
Robotic Thoracic Surgery: Current Landscape and Future Directions.
Review in Interdisciplinary cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed.
- Short-term outcomes of mini-thoracotomy, multiportal video-assisted thoracic surgery, and multiportal robot-assisted thoracic surgery for complex segmentectomy.Journal of robotic surgery · 2026Article
- The evolution of robotic-assisted thoracic surgery: current platforms, emerging technologies, and future perspectives - a narrative review.Journal of robotic surgery · 2026Review
- RoboticJournal of thoracic disease · 2026Article
- Robotic-Assisted Thoracic Surgery in the Immunotherapy Era: Navigating Altered Anatomy, Oncologic Precision, and the Future of Integrated Platforms.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- Artificial intelligence in thoracic surgery: a narrative review of clinical advances and applications in 2025.Journal of thoracic disease · 2026Review
- Robotic thoracic surgery training in the UK and Republic of Ireland: national survey of trainee exposure, preparedness, and barriers.Journal of robotic surgery · 2026Article
- Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery in children with congenital lung disease: advancements, challenges, and future directions.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesRobotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) has transitioned from an emerging adjunct to an established component of minimally invasive thoracic practice. Advances in multi-platform systems, single-port (SP) technology, and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven analytics are shaping the next phase of surgical precision, ergonomics, and patient-specific approaches.
methodsWe synthesized evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs), observational series, national training initiatives, and recent technological innovations to assess the current status, potential benefits, limitations, and future trajectory of RATS. Data sources included RVlob, ROMAN, and RAVAL-4 RCTs; the SORTS UK national training survey; our own thymic resection comparative series; and SP platform feasibility studies.
resultsRCT data demonstrate oncological equivalence between RATS and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), with some evidence for improved lymph node yield. National survey findings underscore the need for structured training pathways to meet evolving technical demands. Early SP platform experiences indicate feasibility and safety in high-volume centres, but widespread adoption is constrained by limited availability, instrumentation, and independent validation. AI-enhanced surgical planning and intraoperative navigation are promising adjuncts, though their clinical impact remains to be defined. Cost, access inequities, and reproducibility outside expert centres continue to pose challenges.
conclusionsThe trajectory of RATS is towards the integration of precision oncology, less invasive access strategies, and data-driven surgical intelligence. Realizing this vision will require rigorous comparative studies, equitable access, and incorporation into structured training to ensure safe, reproducible, and patient-centred adoption worldwide.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.