The procedure was carried out by the renowned surgeon Diego González Rivas, in collaboration with thoracic surgeons from Bellvitge Hospital and a large multidisciplinary team.
The minimally invasive robotic approach marks a milestone in the treatment of high-complexity tumors.
On October 3rd, Bellvitge University Hospital carried out a pioneering procedure to remove a rare tumor located at the tracheal carina, the area where the trachea bifurcates into the two main bronchi. This high-complexity procedure was made possible through the collaboration of a multidisciplinary team and the involvement of thoracic surgeon Dr. Diego González Rivas. The surgery had been rejected by several medical centers due to the risks involved, highlighting the complexity and significance of this milestone.
The surgery was performed using a robotic, single-incision approach, making it a less invasive procedure. Dr. González Rivas, a surgeon who performs around 1,000 procedures annually, played a key role in successfully carrying out the operation. A multidisciplinary team, including anesthesiologists, intensivists, pulmonologists, oncologists, and specialized nursing staff, contributed to the success of the intervention, ensuring the patient's safety.
The patient had been diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma, a rare tumor that is resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, making surgery the only curative treatment option. In conventional surgery, the central location of the tumor would have required opening both sides of the chest to remove the left lung and then reconnecting the trachea to the right lung, which would have increased risks and prolonged recovery. However, robotic technology allowed the operation to be performed through a single incision of approximately four centimeters.
One of the main challenges was maintaining the patient's oxygenation while the airway was disconnected. To address this, the team used extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a technique not commonly used in thoracic surgery but crucial for this specific type of procedure.
The minimally invasive robotic approach helped reduce surgical trauma, pain, and recovery time for the patient, who has experienced a favorable outcome. "This operation was a great challenge, proving that procedures of this complexity are possible in the hands of an expert team," said Dr. González Rivas.
This breakthrough took place during the II Advanced Uniportal Surgery Course organized by Bellvitge Hospital, aimed at training surgeons in cutting-edge techniques in minimally invasive thoracic surgery. Bellvitge, a leader in robotic surgery in Spain, performs approximately 1,000 robotic surgeries annually and has three Da Vinci robots, along with an advanced training platform, with plans to add a fourth robot soon.
Dr. Amaia Ojanguren, head of the Thoracic Surgery Department, emphasized the significance of this procedure in advancing thoracic surgery. "This unprecedented procedure was made possible thanks to the collaboration of a highly qualified multidisciplinary team, whose expertise, enhanced by Dr. González Rivas's involvement, ensured the patient's safety and the surgery's success," she said. Bellvitge is thus consolidating its role as a reference center for high-complexity surgeries and as a second-opinion hub for cases that other hospitals reject due to their difficulty.
This public, university-affiliated, research-driven hospital employs 5,200 dedicated professionals and is the leading center in Catalonia for complex surgeries, particularly oncological procedures. This pioneering operation reflects the hospital's commitment to innovation and patient welfare, maintaining its leadership in precision medicine and advanced robotic surgery.