Surgeon completes first fully robotic lymphovenous bypass in US

Editor's Note

A robotic microsurgery milestone was reported December 11 by Tampa General Hospital on the first fully robotic lymphovenous bypass (LVB) successfully completed from incision to closure within the US. The procedure involved robotic tissue dissection tools that allowed the surgeon to perform delicate tissue dissection and vessel preparation.

LVB is a type of super microsurgery procedure that treats lymphedema by connecting blocked lymphatic vessels directly to nearby small veins to create a new drainage route for built-up fluid. The procedure offers relief from swelling. The robotic dissection instruments used in this reported procedure are designed for sub-millimeter precision that allow complete complex microsurgical procedures, entirely robotically, per the press release.

The surgeon who successfully completed this fully robotic LBV noted that “robotics will define the future of microsurgery and noted that the robotic tools he used in the procedure are “unlocking capabilities that extend beyond the limits of the human hand to support the best possible outcomes for patients.”