Robotic Patch Repair of the Right Main Bronchus After Removal of a Bronchogenic Cyst

The authors present a case of a 45-year-old woman who received a pericardial patch repair of the right main bronchus intermedius following removal of a bronchogenic cyst, located in the subcarinal area of the airway. To the authors' knowledge, the da Vinci system and robotic surgery have not previously been applied in bronchial patch repairs in the United Kingdom. The cyst in the subcarinal region compressed the right main bronchus and the posterior heart wall, and the patient showed symptoms of dry cough. Computed tomography of the thorax with contrast revealed a 73 x 52 x 51 mm hypodense, homogenous, encapsulated lesion of 40 Hu density and smooth regular margins. The right lower lobe bronchus was repaired with a pericardial patch 2.4 cm in length, V-lock suture, a few tichron sutures, and evicel glue. Histology confirmed that the cyst was benign with no evidence of malignancy. The patient was discharged 2 days postoperatively and made an excellent recovery.