New operation ? Robotic en bloc first-rib resection
 

http://ismics.org/abstracts/2011/T6.cgi
http://www.ohioroboticsurgery.com/bdm-proc-robotic.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22576034

this is really interesting. I have read another article by Dr. Martinez. I'll have to looki it up.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I've been thinking about this every day for the past few weeks. Wondering how many years before first rib resection surgery is advanced for the purpose of reducing risks and nerve damage.

This seems to only have been used to treat Paget-Shroetter Syndrome, not neurogenic TOS. I'm guessing neurolysis cannot be performed robotically...yet.

Very promising.

My surgeon said that nerves were wrapped around my first rib, and had to be removed before the rib was cut. It's hard to imagine a robot being able to do that, as well as removing scar tissue from nerves--isn't it?