▲ (from the left) Professor Yong-Hee Kim, Professor Wonjun Ji, and Professor Bokyung Ahn

A team led by Professor Yong-Hee Kim of the Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery at Asan Medical Center successfully removed a rare tumor in the trachea, with only 3 cases reported worldwide, using robotic surgery. This was the first case in Korea where a robot was used for thoracic-approach tracheotomy and reconstruction. In addition to the surgery, personalized treatment for the patient was provided through advanced bronchoscopy by Professor Wonjun Ji of the Division of Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine and diagnosis by Professor Bokyung Ahn of the Department of Pathology.

Mr. Gu (male, 71 years old), who was experiencing severe breathing difficulties due to airway obstruction caused by a tumor, visited Asan Medical Center for an accurate diagnosis and removal of the tumor through endoscopic procedures. Professor Wonjun Ji first performed an interventional bronchoscopy to alleviate the patient’s respiratory distress and collect tissue. After removing as much of the tumor as possible, he inserted a stent to secure the airway. The removed tumor tissue was then analyzed by Professor Bokyung Ahn. The analysis revealed a very rare benign tumor known as glomangiomyoma. Glomangiomyoma is a type of glomus tumor commonly found in areas like fingers, with developed blood vessels and abundant smooth muscle tissue distribution. While a glomus tumor in the central airway is uncommon already, tracheal glomangiomyoma is extremely rare, with only 3 cases reported worldwide.

▲ Professor Yong-Hee Kim of the Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery at Asan Medical Center is performing a robotic surgery.

To prevent bleeding and recurrence, the team decided to remove any remaining tumor and eliminate the bleeding points. Because of the patient’s general weakness due to pneumonia and the tumor’s challenging location near the origin of the right innominate artery, making conventional access very difficult, Professor Yong-Hee Kim and his team performed a tracheotomy and reconstruction using the da Vinci robotic surgical system. The tumor was completely removed after 4 hours of surgery.

Professor Kim said, “Given the patient’s condition and the location of the lesion, robotic surgery was deemed the optimal treatment option as it allows easy visualization and precise bronchial anastomosis.”