Pulmonary sequestration is a rare condition. The blood supply originates from systemic circulation and can consist of small fragile vessels. Injury to these vessels can be challenging to control during minimally invasive approaches and should be avoided at all costs.
In this video, the authors demonstrate a few advantages of using robotic surgery in selected cases such as the procedure shown. These advantages include better visualization with depth perception (3D), easier maneuverability of instruments, and the use of a vascular robotic stapler, which gives total control to the surgeon without relying on assistants.
Dr Alberton is a proctor for Intuitive Surgical.
I don’t think it would have occurred to me that this was a sequestration. I would have been thinking cancer or granuloma. I would have done the same operation you did, and hope I would not blast through that vessel with the bipolar dissector.
You will only make that mistake once! Excellent point though to always have a high index of suspicion especially in young patients. If in doubt, get a contrast CT as the feeding vessel isn’t always so easy to see as it was in this case. Operating right above the diaphragm is where the robot really shines