Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41318539›Full record

SynthesisWorld journal of surgical oncology2025

Comparative meta-analysis of robot- and video-assisted surgery for thymoma: efficacy, learning curve, and economic burden in 7347 patients.

Guohang Shen, Yupei Dai, Yaxu Xin, Kaiyong Wang, Haobo Zhang, Yang Chen, Linyun Wang, Zongxin Li, Feng Li, Fengli Gao

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisComparative Study
In one paragraph

Synthesis in World journal of surgical oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Guohang Shen *Department of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, PR China.
Yupei Dai *Department of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, PR China.
Yaxu XinDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, PR China.
Kaiyong WangDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, PR China.
Haobo ZhangDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, PR China.
Yang ChenDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, PR China.
Linyun WangDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, PR China.
Zongxin LiDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, PR China.
Feng LiGeneral Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, 804 Shengli South Street, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, 750004, PR China.
Fengli GaoGeneral Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, 804 Shengli South Street, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, 750004, PR China. mailtogfl@163.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-4087-7255

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis meta-analysis systematically evaluates the perioperative outcomes, learning curve, and hospitalization costs of robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATs) compared to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATs) for thymoma resection.

methodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, with the final update in June 2025, following PRISMA guidelines. Constant-effects model or random-effects model was used based on heterogeneity, and subgroup analyses were performed accordingly.

resultsA total of 30 studies involving 7,347 patients (RATs: 3,122; VATs: 4,225) were included, and 17 outcome indicators were analyzed. Compared with VATs, RATs showed lower conversion rates, reduced blood loss, shorter chest tube duration, and fewer complications-including pulmonary infections-while operative time and hospital stay differences were modest. Analysis of the learning curve in 153 RATs patients showed operative times significantly decreased after 20 procedures. Total hospitalization costs were higher for RATs, there were no significant differences in 30-day or 90-day mortality between groups.

conclusionRATs showed favorable perioperative outcomes, including faster recovery and fewer complications, indicating potential clinical advantages in thymoma surgery. Although associated with higher hospitalization costs, further large-scale prospective studies are needed to confirm its broader applicability.

Indexed as

Learning CurveRobotic Surgical ProceduresThoracic Surgery, Video-AssistedThymectomyThymomaThymus NeoplasmsHumansLength of StayOperative TimePostoperative ComplicationsPrognosisTreatment OutcomeClinical outcomesRobot-assisted surgeryThymectomyThymomaVideo-assisted surgery

Identifiers

PMID41318539
PMCPMC12771877

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.