Patients in our region no longer need to travel to large tertiary care centers for specialized thoracic surgery. Equipped with the da Vinci 5 robotic surgical system which was made possible thanks to the generosity of the community and support of the Centra Foundation, which has committed over $2.5 million in funding for the robotic surgical system, Centra can now offer advanced, minimally invasive thoracic procedures at Centra Lynchburg General Hospital. Ultimately, this system helps patients stay close to their families, primary care
providers and support networks throughout recovery.
Thoracic surgery focuses on the organs inside the chest, including the lungs, esophagus and other structures within the thoracic cavity. These procedures are often performed to treat conditions such as lung cancer, esophageal cancer and other complex diseases of the chest.
Historically, our surgeons have performed thoracic procedures using either traditional open techniques or video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). While VATS marked an important step forward in minimally invasive care, robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) delivers an even greater level of precision.
The da Vinci 5 provides enhanced 3D visualization, exceptional dexterity and refined instrumentation, enabling smaller incisions, less pain after surgery, fewer complications, shorter hospital stays and a faster return to daily life–all benefits that ultimately improve the experience of our patients.
The expanded capabilities of the da Vinci 5 also allow our surgical teams to perform a broader range of complex thoracic and even some cardiac procedures robotically. Many of these cases would have previously required referral to larger centers or conversion to open surgery due to limited visualization or access. Before performing robotic procedures independently, our surgeons complete extensive, structured training.
This includes simulation-based learning, hands-on instruction at specialized robotic surgery centers and a series of proctored cases under the guidance of credentialed robotic surgeons. This rigorous preparation ensures our patients receive care that meets the highest standards of safety and quality.
