Surgical innovations in robotic techniques and ERAS recovery protocols

Medical advancements in surgical recovery and specialized treatments are being highlighted through recent international and national conferences. At the World Conference on Lung Cancer in Seoul, surgeon Gaetano Romano from Aoup presented on the integration of robotic techniques with Hyperthermic Intrathoracic Chemotherapy (HITHOC) for treating advanced mesothelioma.

In Italy, the IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria in Negrar has achieved ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) certification for breast and thoracic surgery. This protocol aims to accelerate patient recovery by replacing prolonged fasting with early nutrition, allowing patients to eat as soon as two hours after surgery. Data from the facility shows that for breast surgery, complications dropped from 24% to 11.4% and average hospital stays decreased from 2.9 to 1.9 days. In thoracic surgery, the protocol has resulted in zero severe complications or 30-day hospital readmissions.

The VII National Congress of ERAS Italia P.O.I.S. was held in conjunction with the 'Prehab Village' initiative, focusing on physical and psychological preparation to improve surgical outcomes.