Call for Abstract

There has been remarkable progress in peri-operative treatment for locally advanced lung cancer. As a result, there has been an increase in multidisciplinary treatment and salvage surgery for local recurrence or complications after non-surgical treatment. These surgeries are usually performed in a highly invasive manner using a large thoracotomy, but recently they have begun to be performed in a minimally invasive manner using robotic assistance. We would like to have reports on the current situation on the RATS for difficult cases and discuss issues and applications.

Robotic gastrectomy, with its superior dexterity and precision, is increasingly recognized as a safe and effective approach for performing minimally invasive procedures, even in technically demanding cases. Since its approval under the national health insurance system, robotic gastrectomy has been widely adopted across institutions and is now routinely performed in clinical practice.

As surgical expertise has evolved, there has been a growing shift toward the robotic approach over conventional open surgery, even for highly complex cases such as locally advanced gastric cancer with extensive local invasion, combined resection of adjacent organs, remnant gastric cancer, and para-aortic lymph node dissection.

This session aims to explore how the advantages of robotic surgery can be leveraged to improve outcomes in these challenging cases. Presentations and discussions will focus on innovative surgical techniques that make optimal use of robotic capabilities, as well as clinical outcomes associated with these approaches. These discussions will play a vital role in advancing the field of robotic surgery for gastric cancer.

Robotic liver resection has been increasingly adopted in many institutions, with the expectation of reducing complications through advances in surgical techniques that leverage the robot's unique features, such as a three-dimensional visual field and highly precise maneuverability. In this session, we would like to present the current status of robotic liver resection implementation at various institutions, recent surgical outcomes, and operative techniques. We aim to discuss the standardization of robotic liver resection and its future perspectives, including comparisons with laparoscopic surgery.

Robot-assisted thoracic surgery is now widely accepted in Japan, and its safety is considered to be equal to that of Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery. Surgical robots also have educational advantages, such as dual consoles and simulators, and with a relaxation of guidelines, they are attracting a younger generation of surgeons. In this session, we would like to discuss on the current situation and efforts being made at each hospital.

Complex segmentectomy is an advanced procedure that requires an accurate understanding of the complex anatomy of lung segments and precise dissection of blood vessels and bronchi. Among thoracic surgery, it is one of the procedures that best utilizes the excellent maneuverability of robot. On the other hand, to maximize the potential of robot, the surgeon's advanced skills are also required. This session will focus on robot-assisted complex segmentectomy, highlighting the ingenuity of each institution including the application of navigation technologies, specific strategies for surgical education and skill acquisition. Through these discussions, we aim to explore the possibilities for achieving “further refinement” in this field.

Robot-assisted pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD) has been increasingly adopted in recent years; however, there remain several challenges to overcome. In particular, the approach to dissection from the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and superior mesenteric vein (SMV) in RPD for pancreatic cancer is a critical issue—not only for ensuring surgical safety but also for achieving oncological curability. In this session, we would like to invite presentations on the surgical outcomes of RPD for pancreatic cancer from each institution, with a particular focus on their strategies for SMA and SMV dissection. Through these presentations, we aim to facilitate a discussion on surgical techniques and approaches.

For institutions considering robot-assisted cardiac surgery, this session will cover planning, first-case execution, and post-launch operations—addressing program setup, case selection, procedural planning, and daily operations & maintenance—while sharing practical solutions and a clear roadmap to success.

Robot-assisted thoracic surgery(RATS) became eligible for insurance coverage in Japan in 2018, and its applicability was expanded to include benign lung diseases in 2024. As the number of RATS procedures increases, more and more cases of intraoperative problems have been reported. In this session, the presenters will report on incidents and accidents that occurred in each facility during RATS, as well as issues with the various RATS approaches, and discuss how to prevent and respond to them.

Robotic-assisted colorectal cancer surgery is now performed in many institutions, and young surgeons are getting more chances to operate. However, there are many different ways to perform the surgery, such as how to keep a clear view during the operation, where to place the trocars, and which approach to use. These differences can sometimes lead to unexpected problems during surgery. In this workshop, we will present difficult and challenging cases from different institutions and discuss how to deal with problems and avoid them. This session will share practical tips to improve the safety and consistency of robotic surgery and help young surgeons build their skills.