The London Clinic was the first private hospital in the UK to introduce robotic surgery. In our Lung Centre, we use the da Vinci surgical robot to treat lung cancer and other conditions with greater accuracy and shorter recovery times compared to open surgery.
Robotic lung surgery
Also known as: Minimally invasive lung surgery
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Robotic lung surgery consultation at The London Clinic
At The London Clinic Lung Centre, we use state-of-the-art equipment to deliver highly precise stereotactic radiotherapy. We have two machines which can be used to deliver treatment, the RapidArc (which uses a linear accelerator to deliver highly-targeted radiation as it rotates around the patient in a 360-degree arc) and the CyberKnife platform – the first and only fully robotic radiotherapy device.These systems deliver beams of radiation from various angles while you are lying on a treatment couch. As you breathe or move during treatment, your tumour may shift position. Both of these machines monitor your movements and adjust their radiation beams to deliver precise treatment.
what’s the difference?: Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is a minimally invasive alternative to lung surgery. Some preliminary research indicates that robotic lung surgery offers similar long-term outcomes but with lower complication rates compared to VATS.
Compared to standard radiotherapy and surgery, the benefits of stereotactic radiotherapy include:
- Fewer side effects
- Minimal recovery
- Fewer treatment sessions
While the side effects of stereotactic radiotherapy for lung cancer are less common than with conventional radiotherapy, you may still experience some. If you are affected by side effects following treatment, they tend to develop days, weeks or even months after treatment.Possible side effects include:
- Soreness and swelling in the treated area
- Fatigue
- Red, dry or itchy skin
- Coughing and shortness of breath
Step 1. Preparing for robotic lung surgery
Before your surgery, you will be given instructions to follow ahead of your surgery date. These will include:
- Fasting – you will be asked to stop eating and drinking (except water) for a certain amount of time prior to your surgery.
- Stopping certain medications – your surgical team will review the medications you currently take and advise you on any that you should stop taking prior to your surgery.
- Quitting smoking – smoking reduces blood flow, which can slow your recovery. Smoking can also contribute to other post-surgical complications and cause future health issues. As a result, it is important to quit smoking well in advance of your surgery.
- Preparing for a short stay in hospital – you will normally need to stay in hospital for a few days following robotic lung surgery, so make sure you pack a bag with anything you might need until you go home.
Step 2. During robotic lung surgery
Before your surgery begins, you will be placed under a general anaesthetic. This means you’ll be asleep during the procedure and will not feel any discomfort. A breathing tube will be inserted into your airway to allow each lung to be separately inflated during surgery.Your surgeon will make between one and five small incisions between your ribs and place the instruments and the camera attached to the robot into the incisions. Using a nearby computer, your surgeon will view a 360-degree image of the surgical area and direct the robot with their own hand movements to remove the damaged lung tissue.Towards the end of the procedure, your surgeon will insert a chest tube through one of the incisions to drain any excess air or fluid from your lungs. This tube will remain in place for several days and will be removed by your care team as you recover.
Step 3. Recovery and aftercare
Once the procedure is complete, you will be monitored as you wake up from the anaesthetic. You will then be transferred to your room, where you will stay until you are well enough to be discharged from the hospital. Since this is minimally invasive surgery, this process should be quicker compared to open lung surgery.While you are in the hospital, your care team will monitor your condition, ensuring you are recovering well and are not in too much pain after robotic lung surgery.Once you return home, you will need to rest to allow your body to continue recovering effectively. You will regain your strength and energy within two to three weeks.
We offer Fixed Price Packages
Where possible, we’ll provide a fixed-price package for your hospital care. This covers your hospital stay, nursing, and use of our facilities, giving you a clear guide to what those costs will be.
- Pre-op assessment
- Hospital stay, nursing care and meals
- Tests, scans and physio during your stay
- Take-home medication (up to 5 days)
- Post-op follow-up appointments
- Standard equipment or prosthesis (if needed)
- Unplanned extended stay or ITU (if clinically required)
- Initial consultation and any tests done during it
- Consultant and anaesthetist fees (quoted separately)
- Physio or therapy before or after your stay
- Diagnostics before admission (unless agreed in your plan)
- Specialist medication beyond 5 days
- Ambulance transport or bespoke prosthetics
Your consultant’s fees are quoted separately and shared directly by their office after your consultation. These professional fees cover the time, expertise, and care provided by your consultant before, during, and after your treatment. See our full terms and conditions
Why choose The London Clinic?
Trusted for over 90 years, The London Clinic is an independent charitable hospital that reinvests into care, research, and support for those who can’t easily access private treatment.
The UK’s largest independent hospital
More patients choose The London Clinic than any other.
Top-rated by real patients
4.86/5 from over 1,600 reviews on Doctify and over 4.5 on Google.
Full intensive care on-site
World-class 13-bed ICU for expert support if your care becomes complex.
Investing in clinical excellence
Backed by Northwestern, we equip our teams with cutting-edge medical equipment.
0% Finance Options
We’ve teamed up with Chrysalis to offer you funding options that allow you to spread the cost of your treatment.
If you choose to pay for your treatment at The London Clinic over 12 months, you can make use of a great 0% interest option and pay nothing extra. Or you can choose to pay over two to five years at 14.9% APR.
Trustees of the London Clinic Ltd trading as The London Clinic is an Appointed Representative of Chrysalis Finance Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The London Clinic is a credit broker, not a lender. The provider of a payment scheme which is not offered through or by Chrysalis Finance Limited may not be so authorised and regulated. Cancer treatments or transplants aren’t covered by finance packages. Finance options are only available for UK patients.