Uniportal robot-assisted resection and reconstruction of the left bronchial secondary carina in a pediatric patient.

BACKGROUND

Bronchial carcinoid tumors are rare in children and often present central airway involvement, posing challenges for lung-sparing surgery. Robotic systems enable enhanced precision and dexterity, but their application in pediatric airway reconstruction remains limited.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 13-year-old boy presented with a left secondary carinal bronchial carcinoid. After bronchoscopic tumor debulking, definitive surgery was performed using a uniportal robot-assisted approach with the da Vinci Xi system (Intuitive Surgical Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA). A single 4-cm incision was made at the fifth intercostal space along the midaxillary line. The secondary carina was resected, and airway continuity was reconstructed using three separate continuous 3-0 barbed sutures. The postoperative course was uneventful, and bronchoscopy at three months confirmed a patent, well-healed anastomosis.

CONCLUSIONS

This case demonstrates the feasibility and safety of uniportal robot-assisted secondary carina reconstruction in a pediatric patient, providing a minimally invasive option for complex airway surgery.