Initial experience with the Saroa surgical system for early-stage lung cancer: a comparative study with the da Vinci surgical system.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to report the initial clinical experience with the Saroa™ surgical system (Riverfield Inc., Tokyo, Japan) and to compare perioperative outcomes with the da Vinci surgical system in early-stage lung cancer surgery.

METHODS

A retrospective evaluation was conducted on patients who underwent robotic anatomical lung resection for pathological stage 0-I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at our institution between July 2023 and May 2025, utilizing either the Saroa or da Vinci® Xi Surgical System. Demographic data, comorbidities, operative variables, complications, and postoperative courses were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

A total of 60 patients were included in the study (Saroa, n = 30; da Vinci, n = 30). Patients in the Saroa group were older (74.6 vs. 71.2 years, p = 0.022). The median operative time (202 vs. 191 min, p = 0.524), console time (142 vs. 141.5 min, p = 0.505), and blood loss (50 vs. 40 mL, p = 0.994) did not differ significantly. The incidence of postoperative complications was similar (23.3% vs. 20.0%, p = 1.000). The median postoperative hospital stay was 7 vs. 8 days (p = 0.572).

CONCLUSION

Saroa demonstrated feasibility and perioperative safety comparable to that of da Vinci in early stage lung cancer surgery.