Thoracic Robotic Surgery 

Newton-Wellesley Hopsital's Robotic Surgery Program is one of the few sites in the United States that offers robotic thoracic surgery. Our surgeons use the newest and most-advanced techniques and minimally invasive approaches to managing complicated airway, breathing, and lung conditions.

Our Team

• Lana Schumacher, MD, MS, FACS
• Hugh Auchincloss MD, MPH

Make an appointment

• (617) 243-6447

Conditions treated  

• bronchogenic cysts
• esophageal cancer
• esophageal duplication cysts
• lung nodules
• mediastinal masses
• non-small cell lung cancer
• small cell lung cancer
• Thymomas
• Thymectomy for Myasthenia Gravis
• Tracheobronchoplasty

Our robotic lung surgery program has grown from our surgeons’ pioneering work with the minimally invasive thoracic surgical technique known as VATS, or video-assisted thoracic surgery, for lung cancer.  Our surgeons also specialize in lung sparing procedures, segmentectomy, for small lung cancers, and utilize the advanced robotic technology of near infrared imaging to improve the anatomic surgery. 

Robotic Lung Cancer Surgery

Our thoracic surgeons perform several different robotic procedures in people with early stages of lung cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, and mediastinal tumors. We also work with select patients who have been successfully treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy and may benefit from surgery as well as advanced lung cancer surgeries.

As national leaders in a range of robotic-assisted surgeries that are used to manage several types of lung cancer, NWH is one of a select few institutions in the country to offer robotic lobectomies, or removal of a lobe of the lung as well as other lung cancer surgeries and reconstruction of the airway.

Robotic Esophageal Cancer Surgery

Our thoracic surgeons perform minimally invasive robotic esophageal cancer surgery, esophagectomy, and are the amongst some of the national leaders in robotic esophagectomy.  Our surgeons use advanced techniques, such as near-infrared imaging, to evaluate blood flow to the digestive organs for reconstructive surgery for the esophagectomy.  We strive to have our patients recover quicker with fewer complications and shorter length of stays.  Our thoracic surgeons also play a key leadership role in the training of other surgeons across the country to perform safe robotic surgical procedures.

Robotic Surgery for Digestive & Gastrointestinal Conditions

Robotic surgery can also be used to manage benign conditions related to the gastrointestinal tract, including the following:

• achalasia
• acid reflux, which is also called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD
• hiatal hernia
• paraesophageal hernia
• esophageal diverticulum
• Diaphragmatic hernia

Our surgeons are experts in treating these conditions with minimally invasive robotic surgery which allows the patients to go home sooner, have quicker recoveries and return to their regular activities sooner. We work closely with our Heartburn and Reflux Center , a multidisciplinary approach where the patient can meet with a nutritionist, Gastrointestinal physician, and a Thoracic surgeon in one location.