Influence of Robotic and Thoracoscopic Surgery on Early Postoperative Systemic Inflammatory Response in Patients With Surgically Treated Lung Cancer—Preliminary Results

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive approaches such as video-assisted (VATS) and robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) offer less traumatic alternatives for the treatment of lung cancer. This study compares the early postoperative inflammatory response and complication rates between both techniques in patients undergoing lung resection for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on patients between 2022 and 2023. Inflammatory markers, including lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, platelets, and derived ratios (PLR, NLR), were analysed. RESULTS: RATS was associated with significantly higher postoperative inflammatory markers (PLR, p = 0.007; NLR, p = 0.019) and greater perioperative variation (ΔPLR and ΔNLR, p = 0.028). However, no significant association was found between surgical technique or inflammation and the incidence of postoperative complications or persistent air leak (PAL). CONCLUSIONS: RATS induces a stronger early inflammatory response than VATS, but this does not associate with a higher rate of complications or PAL.