Robert Merritt, MD, director of the Division of Thoracic Surgery, is the first surgeon in central Ohio to perform a total robotic sleeve lobectomy. “A total robotic sleeve lobectomy allows us to completely remove a tumor in the bronchus while preserving a significant amount of lung,” Dr. Merritt explains. “The standard of care for bronchial tumors without robotic assistance remains open surgery and removal of the entire lung, so this is a tremendous advancement.”
In addition to the obvious benefit of lung preservation, with a robotic sleeve lobectomy patients can also expect smaller incisions, reduced pain, shorter hospital stays and faster overall recovery.