Technique of robotic first rib resection for thoracic outlet syndrome

INTRODUCTION

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) is highly underdiagnosed and undertreated^[1]. It is estimated that TOS affects 0.3 to 8% of the population. This high variance in the reported prevalence reinforces the challenges in terms of understanding TOS. Any discussion about TOS always begins with the classification that dates back to the 1950s: Neurogenic (NTOS), Venous (Paget Schroetter Syndrome, PSS), and Arterial TOS^[2]. Over the years, due to the lack of objective findings in the majority of patients with NTOS, NTOS has been further classified as True NTOS and Disputed (NTOS). The majority of patients with TOS have NTOS, and the majority of patients with NTOS are in the “Disputed” category (DNTOS). Patients with DNTOS have neurologic symptoms such as pain and paresthesia in the upper extremity, neck and shoulder with a normal neurologic exam and nerve conduction studies. Historically, it has been thought that TOS results from the compression of the neurovascular structures in the upper chest and the neck. The first rib has been the common denominator in this hypothesis.

Recently Gharagozloo et al.^[3,4] have described a congenital malformation at the costo-sternal joint of the first rib as the “offending” pathologic entity in patients with PSS and DTNOS [Figures 1-4]. Using dynamic Magnetic Resonance Imaging and 3-D computerized tomography reconstruction, these authors have shown that with the elevation of the upper extremity and activity, the subclavian vein is compressed between the costo-sternal joint and the clavicle. They have hypothesized that in patients with DNTOS, neurologic symptoms may manifest nerve pain that results from venous compression and the resultant venous ischemia of the nerves in the upper extremity. This hypothesis is based on the fact that the upper extremity is fed by a single artery and vein as an “end organ”. Venous congestion may be an essential factor precipitating circulatory disturbance in nerve roots and inducing neurogenic intermittent claudication. Venous congestion has been shown to break the blood-nerve barrier and result in relative ischemia^[5]. As a proof of concept, these authors have demonstrated that in patients with persistent neurologic symptoms following first rib resection, the disarticulation of the costo-sternal joint, which was previously described as the costoclavicular ligament, has resulted in excellent relief of symptoms^[6-8]. Therefore, it is crucial to disarticulate the costo-sternal joint as part of first rib resection in patients with TOS. Also, these authors have shown that PSS is simply the manifestation of the same pathologic entity, which results in thrombosis with prolonged compression of the subclavian vein.

Figure 1. Magnetic Resonance Angiogram with elevation of the arms in a patient with PSS. There is bilateral compression off the subclavian-innominate junction (arrows). PSS: Paget schroetter syndrome.

Figure 2. Resected “offending” portion of the right first rib showing a tubercle (arrow) and abnormal costo-sternal joint corresponding to the extrinsic compression seen in Figure 1.

Figure 3. Magnetic Resonance Angiogram with elevation of the arms in a patient with DNTOS. There is bilateral compression off the subclavian-innominate junction (arrows). DNTOS: Disputed neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome.

Figure 4. Resected “offending” portion of the right first rib showing a tubercle (arrow) and abnormal costo-sternal joint corresponding to the extrinsic compression seen in Figure 3.

The most common first rib resection is performed using a transaxillary or supraclavicular approach. However, these approaches are associated with neurovascular complications, incomplete decompression of the subclavian vein and the medial aspect of the thoracic outlet, and difficulty in disarticulating the costo-sternal joint from outside the chest cavity.

The robotic surgical systems have the advantages of 3D visualization and precise instrument maneuverability in a confined space. The surgical robot has facilitated a precise, minimally invasive transthoracic approach to disarticulating of the costo-sternal joint and resection of the first rib. This approach has been associated with the best-reported results in patients with PSS and NTOS.

This communication outlines the technique of robotic first rib resection with disarticulation of the costo-sternal joint for patients with TOS.

TECHNIQUE OF ROBOTIC RESECTION OF THE MEDIAL ASPECT OF THE FIRST RIB AND DISARTICULATION OF THE COSTO-STERNAL JOINT

A video of the procedure is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mCKcgAAjb8

Patients are placed in the lateral decubitus position with the affected side up with single lung ventilation of the ipsilateral side. The procedure is performed in 5 steps.

Step 1 - port placement

Three 2-cm, nontrocar incisions are made [Figures 5-7]. Incision #1 is made at the 5th intercostal (IC) space at the midaxillary line in the right chest. Incision #2 is made in the 4th IC space at the anterior axillary line. Incision #3 is made in the 4th IC space at the posterior axillary line. In the Left Chest, the port placement is a mirror image of the right chest. A 1-cm incision #4 is made in the 6th intercostal space at the anterior axillary line. A retractor (Endopaddle Retract; Auto Suture, Covidien incorporated, Mansfeld, MA) is introduced through this incision and used to retract the lung inferiorly. At the end of the procedure, a chest drain (28 French tubes) is inserted through this incision.

Figure 5. Patient in the left lateral decubitus position. Trocar sites are shown. The robot is brought over the head of the patient.

Figure 6. Patient in the left lateral decubitus position. Trocar sites are shown. The robot (da Vinci Xi) is brought over the head of the patient.

Figure 7. Patient in the left lateral decubitus position. The retractor (arrow) which is fixed to the bed is used to retract the lung inferiorly.

Step 4 - robotic dissection of the first rib and disarticulation of the costo-sternal joint

The robotic arms are replaced in the same ports. A 30-degree down-viewing robotic camera is introduced through incision #1, a hook cautery is placed in the right robotic arm in incision #2, and a second hook cautery is placed in the left robotic arm in incision #3. The hook in the left arm is used to put downward traction on the rib as the hook cautery (30 cut/30 coagulation setting) is used to dissect the first rib away from the subclavian vein, disconnect the scalene muscles from the rib, and disarticulate the rib from the sternal and times clavicular joint [Figure 8]. During this dissection, the table assistant places upward pressure on the tissues just superior to the edge of the first rib. This maneuver moves the vascular structures away from the bone and facilities the dissection. The resected rib is removed through incision #2.

Figure 8. Intraoperative photograph during the robotic resection of the medial right first rib in a patient with Disputed Neurogenic TOS. The abnormal boney tubercle at the costo-steral joint results in compression of the subclavian vein (SV) at its junction with the innominate vein (IV). TOS: Thoracic outlet syndrome.

RESULTS

The results of robotic first rib resection for PSS and NTOS have been reported previously^[6,7,8]. A total of 162 patients have undergone robotic first rib resection by our group. The first rib was removed en bloc, and the costo-sternal joint was disarticulated. Operative time was 87.6 min +/- 10.8 min. There were no intraoperative complications. Hospital stay ranged from 2 to 4 days with a median hospitalization of 3 days. There were no neurovascular complications. There was no mortality. In patients with neurologic symptoms, immediate relief of symptoms was seen in 71/79 patients (91%). In these patients, Quick DASH Scores (Mean +/- SEM) decreased from 60.3 +/- 2.1 preoperatively to 5 +/- 2.3 in the immediate postoperative period, and 3.5 +/- 1.1 at 6 months (P < 0.0001)^[10]. In patients with Paget-Schroetter syndrome, 31% required endovascular venoplasty to completely open the subclavian vein after relieving the extrinsic boney compression. In patients with PSS, at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, in all patients, MRA with maneuvers showed relief of extrinsic compression and patency of the subclavian vein. Two years after robotic resection of the offending portion of the first rib and obtaining patency of the subclavian vein, all patients remained asymptomatic and had full function of the affected upper extremity.

DISCUSSION

Historically, TOS has been poorly understood^[11,12]. Invariably discussion about TOS leads to cervical ribs. Cervical ribs and associated bands can compress the brachial plexus and subclavian artery in the neck. However, cervical ribs and the associated bands extending from the cervical rib to the first rib are rare and not a common cause of TOS. In fact, it has been suggested that cervical rib disease should be classified separately from TOS. In an attempt to unify neurovascular symptoms related to the upper extremity, in 1956, Peet^[13] proposed the term “Thoracic Outlet Syndrome”. Unfortunately, in 1958, Rob and Standeven used a similar term, “Thoracic Outlet Compression Syndrome”, in their description of a series of patients with cervical ribs, arterial thrombosis, and distal gangrene of the upper extremity^[14]. This inadvertent association between patients who would best be classified as Cervical Rib Disease, and patients with problems related to the thoracic outlet, has resulted in a great deal of confusion among medical practitioners. In order to better understand the pathogenesis of TOS and design appropriate surgical procedures for the treatment of this disease, patients with neurovascular symptoms of the upper extremity who have been previously classified as TOS should be separated into Cervical Rib Disease, and Thoracic Outlet Syndrome or “Subclavian Vein Compression Syndrome”. Gharagozloo et al.^[4] have proposed that symptoms which were previously classified as Neurogenic and Venous (PSS) TOS represent a variable symptomatic presentation of the compression of the subclavian vein by an abnormal boney tubercle at costo-sternal joint, which results in neurologic symptoms with mild compression (Neurogenic TOS) and thrombosis of the vein with prolonged compression (PSS). As a proof of concept, robotic resection of the medial aspect of the first rib and disarticulation of the costo-sternal joint has been associated with excellent results.

The robotic resection of the first rib has a number of technical challenges. These challenges can be divided into:

1. Anesthesia management: it is important to use hand ventilation with minimal mediastinal excursion during the robotic dissection. It prevents injury to the phrenic nerve or the superior vena cava.

2. Rib dissection: the costo-sternal joint for the first rib is invariably abnormal. The first rib should be identified at the costo-sternal joint and traced posteriorly. The first rib is covered with pleura and inner intercostal muscles. It is important to delineate the edges of the first rib clearly. In addition, the subclavian groove should be identified by tracing the suvbclavian artery from inside the chest. The Kerrison instrument is ideal for dividing the rib at the subclavian groove, where the rib is the thinnest. The anvil of the Kerrison instrument protects the subclavian artery while the blade divides the bone. The use of powered instruments or a Giggly saw has been described by Strother and Margolis^[15]. However, we have found the Kerrison to be the safest instrument for rib division.

3. Vascular injury: care should be taken to stay away from the subclavian vessels by remaining close to the bone. The surgical robot does not allow the use of two hook instruments. Therefore during this phase, the hook in the right robotic arm needs to be connected to an external cautery power source. The left hook pulls down on the bone, and the right hook “hugs” the bone. We have never had a vascular injury. However, we are always prepared and run team drills in a regular interval. Based on laboratory studies, the best way to control bleeding from the subclavian vein is to use the technique that we have previously described for control of major vascular injury during robotic lobectomy^[16].