Robotic Thoracic Surgery

Robotic Thoracic Surgery in New Jersey

If you need surgery for a tumor of the chest cavity, including the lungs, thymus, or mediastinum, surgeons at Hackensack Meridian Health are New Jersey’s leader in thoracic robotic surgery.

We are the busiest and most experienced robotic thoracic surgery program in the state. Robotic surgery allows us to remove your tumor or tumors with less pain, shorter recovery time and excellent cancer outcomes.

Ion Navigational Bronchoscopy

Hackensack Meridian Health offers robotic bronchoscopy, which helps detect lung cancer earlier. This state-of-the-art, minimally invasive technology uses a flexible, robotic-controlled device to navigate airways. This approach enables greater precision for biopsy compared to manual techniques and improves our ability to diagnose lung cancer at the earliest stage when it is most treatable.

"The Ion Bronchoscopy System enables unprecedented precision and the ability to diagnose lung cancer at the earliest stage." - Faiz Bhora, Chief of Thoracic Surgery

When Should You Consider Robotic Thoracic Surgery

Hackensack Meridian Health thoracic surgeons offer minimally invasive robotic surgery for the following conditions:

Primary Lung Tumors – cancer or benign – that begin in the lungs
Metastatic Lung Tumors – cancer that has spread (metastasized) to the lungs
Thymus Tumors – cancer or benign – located in the thymus gland
Mediastinum Tumors – cancer or benign – located in the chest cavity between the sternum and spine

Expert Surgeons In New Jersey

Find a robotic thoracic surgeon or surgery center close to home.

Find A Robotic Thoracic Surgeon

Find an expert robotic thoracic surgeon near you.

ENT surgery locations near me in new jersey

Find A Robotic Thoracic Surgery Center

We have serval conveniently located robotic thoracic surgery centers and hospitals across New Jersey - find one near you.

Benefits of Robotic Thoracic Surgery

Learn more about the benefits of robotic thoracic surgery by expanding the accordions below.

Preserving Lung Capacity and Healthy Tissue While Safely Removing Your Tumor

In the past, surgery for lung cancer meant removing an entire lung or lobe of the lung. Surgery for tumors of the thymus or mediastinum (in the chest cavity between the sternum and spine) meant cutting the breastbone and a long, painful recovery.

Robotic thoracic surgery is a minimally invasive approach that’s changed all that. Surgeons use very small tools and a camera that fit into your body through incisions less than a half-inch long.

Robotic technology provides greater precision and flexibility in the hardest-to-reach areas, allowing our thoracic surgeons to:

Remove your lung tumor along with just a segment of your lung, helping you preserve as much lung capacity as possible
Remove tumors in the thymus or in the chest cavity without cutting the breastbone and sparing as much healthy tissue as possible
Achieve better cancer control by safely removing the most cancer possible (cleaner margins)

Less Pain, Faster Recovery and Other Benefits

Robotic thoracic surgery offers many advantages compared to traditional surgery, including:

Decreased blood loss (and reduced need for transfusions)
Less risk of infection
Less pain after surgery
Shorter hospital stay
- Segmentectomy or lobectomy for lung tumor – 1-2 days vs. 3-4 days at other hospitals
- Thymectomy for thymus tumor – same day or 1 day vs. 2-3 days at other hospitals
Smaller scars, both external and internal
Faster recovery and return to normal activities

Robotic Thoracic Surgery Expertise

Leaders in Robotic Surgery

Thoracic surgeons at Hackensack Meridian Health are New Jersey’s most experienced in robotic surgery – performing robotic procedures for more than 10 years, and robotic thoracic surgery exclusively for four years

Today, 90 percent of our lung cancer surgeries are performed with robotic technology.

Innovative Technology

Our robotic systems incorporate the latest 3D, high-definition imaging technology, providing surgeons with increased visibility using the smallest possible incisions.

We are the only surgeons in New Jersey with Ion navigational bronchoscopy to access hard-to-reach nodules and identify and treat lung cancers earlier than with existing technology.

Patient Experience

Early detection and treatment. Thanks to advanced imaging and Ion navigational bronchoscopy, you benefit from detection and biopsy of even the smallest lung nodules. This means our patients can start cancer treatment sooner before cancer has a chance to grow and spread.

Faster recovery. Our robotic expertise and experience managing thoracic tumors translates to significantly shorter hospital stays than the national average – putting you on a faster road to recovery.

Patient Success Stories

Jarmila Mallick standing on a bridge in the woods, smiling.

Mom of Three Teens Overcomes Rare Tumor in Her Chest

Doctors at JFK University Medical Center successfully perform complex surgery to remove a schwannoma in Jarmila Mallick’s chest.

Debbie Cihoski sits on a bench in the park, reading a book and smiling.

Under Armpit Bump Signals Lung Cancer for NJ Woman

Despite having no family history, non-smoker Debbie Cihoski was diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer. A warning bump under her left armpit saved her life.

Kim Mosko and her husband sitting close outside and smiling.

Surgery Successfully Removes Encapsulated Lung Cancer

Doctors waste no time in removing a cancerous mass in Kim Mosko’s lung and later discover a gene mutation that led to the tumor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is robotic thoracic surgery?

Robotic thoracic surgery is an advanced, minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat conditions in the chest (thorax). Surgeons use the da Vinci® Surgical System, controlling it from a console to manipulate tiny instruments and a high-definition 3D camera through very small incisions. It is an alternative to traditional open-chest surgery and, in some cases, video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS).

What are the main advantages of having robotic thoracic surgery?

Compared to traditional open surgery, the primary patient benefits of the robotic approach include:

Less pain and scarring
Less blood loss
Lower risk of infection
A shorter hospital stay
A faster recovery and return to normal activities
Better clinical outcomes in many cases

What types of chest and lung conditions can be treated with this robotic procedure?

Hackensack Meridian Health surgeons use this technology to treat a variety of conditions, including:

Lung Cancer (lobectomy, segmentectomy, wedge resection)
Esophageal Cancer
Mediastinal Tumors (such as thymomas)
Benign Esophageal Conditions (like achalasia)
Hiatal Hernia Repair

Where does Hackensack Meridian Health offer robotic thoracic surgery?