The Application of a Novel Split Type Robotic System Carina™ Platform for Esophageal Surgery

Background Robotic esophageal surgery is becoming increasing popular. Most of recent publications on esophageal surgery used the da Vinci system. The Carina™ Platform is a new addition to the field. Here, we share our first experience with this innovative system for the management of esophageal resections. Methods A total of eight robot-assisted McKeown esophagectomies (RAME) were performed on patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Intra- and post-operative outcomes such as operative time, intraoperative blood loss, length of hospitalization, postoperative complications, and pathology data were analyzed. Results No conversions and intraoperative complications were observed. Median surgery time was 311 minutes, with robotic docking time of 6 minutes and console time of 112 minutes. Median estimated blood loss was 30 mL, and hospital stay duration was 8.5 days. Postoperative complications of some grade occurred in each patient including pleural effusion, anastomotic leakage, neuropathic pain, and pneumonia that required only conservative treatment. R0 resection was accomplished in all patients with ESCC. Conclusion Our initial experience demonstrated that Carina may serve as an additional surgical tool in esophagectomy surgery. Further investigation through large-scale prospective studies is required to comprehensively evaluate its efficacy and benefits.