Robotic surgery of the mediastinum.

Several different mediastinal procedures for benign and malignant diseases have been proved to be feasible and safe when performed by a robotic minimally invasive approach. This article reviews the published data on robotic mediastinal surgery, focusing on technical aspects and perioperative outcomes. These are evaluated for differences and potential benefits over open and conventional minimally invasive techniques. Is there a need for the robot in the mediastinum? Is its application justified? 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.