Robot-Assisted Thoracic Procedures Side Effects and Warnings

Possible Complications

Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have a robot-assisted thoracic procedure, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Collection of air or gases in the lung cavity ( pneumothorax )
• Collapsed lung
• Need for a prolonged artificial respiration on a ventilator (breathing machine)
• Damage to neighboring organs or structures
• The need to switch to traditional surgical methods (eg, traditional laparoscopic or open surgery)
• Anesthesia-related problems
• Nerve damage

Some factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

• Advanced age
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Use of certain medicines

Be sure to discuss these risks with your doctor before the procedure.

Call Your Doctor

After you leave the hospital, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

• Cough or shortness of breath
• Coughing up yellow, green, or bloody mucus
• New chest pain
• Signs of infection, including fever and chills
• Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or discharge from an incision site
• Difficulty urinating, such as pain, burning, urgency, frequency, or bleeding
• Pain and/or swelling in your feet, calves, or legs
• Persistent nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
• Headache, feeling faint or dizzy
• Other worrisome symptoms

In case of an emergency, CALL 911.