Minimally Invasive Robotic Thoracic Surgery Unit

Specialists in advanced minimally invasive thoracic surgery

The Minimally Invasive Robotic Thoracic Surgery Unit at the Publio Cordón Memorial Hospital, led by Dr Diego González Rivas, treats patients with lung, pleural or mediastinal conditions requiring specialised surgical treatment or an expert assessment to confirm the diagnosis and determine the most appropriate treatment strategy.

The unit focuses on the surgical management of thoracic conditions using advanced minimally invasive techniques, including single-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) and single-port robotic approaches. These procedures enable anatomical lung resections, segmentectomies, lobectomies, resection of lung metastases and surgery for mediastinal tumours to be performed via small incisions.

The Publio Cordón Memorial Hospital offers a hospital environment equipped for highly specialised thoracic surgery, where each case is analysed on an individual basis to establish a rigorous treatment plan tailored to the clinical characteristics of each patient.

When to consider thoracic surgery

An assessment at a specialist thoracic surgery unit is particularly recommended when a pulmonary nodule is detected, when lung cancer has been diagnosed or is suspected, or when a thoracic lesion identified on an imaging scan requires diagnostic confirmation or surgical treatment.

A specialist assessment is also recommended for patients with lung or pleural conditions that cause persistent symptoms, recurrent episodes or a course of the disease that does not respond adequately to conservative treatments.

The consultation enables the diagnosis to be confirmed, the need for surgery to be accurately assessed, and a determination to be made as to which patients are likely to benefit from surgical treatment and what the most appropriate approach is in each case.

Chest conditions that may require surgery

The unit specialises in the surgical treatment of a wide range of thoracic conditions. Each clinical case is assessed taking into account the nature of the lesion, the patient’s general condition and the possibilities for treatment using minimally invasive techniques.

Among the conditions most frequently assessed and treated are:

• Lung cancer at various surgical stages

• Suspicious or unexplained pulmonary nodules

• Lung metastases suitable for surgical resection

• Mediastinal tumours and masses

• Pleural conditions requiring surgical treatment

• Spontaneous pneumothorax and bullous lung disease

• Pulmonary lesions requiring biopsy or diagnostic resection

The indication for surgical treatment is always established following a detailed clinical assessment, which enables us to determine which patients are likely to benefit from surgery and what the most appropriate therapeutic strategy is in each situation.

Diagnostic assessment and surgical planning

The care process begins with a specialist consultation during which the patient’s medical history, current symptoms and available diagnostic tests are reviewed. In many cases, it is necessary to supplement the assessment with high-resolution imaging, respiratory function tests or other investigations that enable the precise location and extent of the lesion to be determined.

Based on this information, a detailed treatment plan is drawn up. Where the clinical situation requires it, cases are assessed in coordination with other specialities involved in the management of thoracic conditions.

This analysis enables us to confirm whether surgery is the best treatment option and to plan the procedure precisely, selecting the surgical approach that offers the greatest guarantees of safety and efficacy for each patient.

Minimally invasive thoracic surgery

The unit’s surgical activity is carried out using minimally invasive thoracic surgery techniques designed to treat complex conditions whilst minimising surgical trauma.

Unlike traditional thoracic surgery, which required large incisions in the chest wall and the separation of the ribs, these approaches allow the procedure to be performed through small incisions between the intercostal spaces, usually measuring just a few centimetres.

In many patients, the procedure can be performed using single-port approaches, in which the entire operation is carried out through a single incision. The camera and surgical instruments are inserted through this access point, enabling complex lung resections to be performed with less impact on the chest wall.

The unit also utilises robotic surgery via the Da Vinci 5 system, the most advanced and up-to-date version of robotic surgery available in clinical practice.

This system enables the surgeon to operate with a high-definition three-dimensional view and precise control of highly manoeuvrable articulated instruments. Its technology facilitates the performance of complex procedures in confined anatomical spaces, improves the precision of dissection, contributes to greater preservation of structures, enables a faster recovery and reduces post-operative pain.

Specialist team and clinical support

Care within the unit is organised according to a model that combines specialist surgical expertise with rigorous planning of the entire clinical process. Each patient is assessed on an individual basis, with the necessary time taken to analyse their clinical situation, review diagnostic tests and precisely define the various treatment options.

From the very first consultation, the medical team clearly explains the diagnosis, the significance of the findings on imaging tests and the possible treatment strategies. The patient receives detailed information on the scope of the procedure, its objectives and the available alternatives, so that they can understand their situation and participate in decision-making in an informed manner.

Following the procedure, follow-up is organised in a structured manner to monitor clinical progress, assess functional recovery and, where necessary, coordinate subsequent care with other specialities involved in the treatment of chest conditions.