VATS versus Robotic assist surgery for upper right lung lobectomy?

VATS surgery the camera shows the doctor in 2 dimensions. RATS surgery shows the doctor in 3D.

It's been 15 years since my VATS surgery so I don't remember much. Sorry.

Hello Monette23,
I had a robotic right middle lobectomy in April.
My husband is retired, so I’m sorry, I didn’t pay attention to when being home alone would have been doable.
My discharge instructions were to start daily activities as tolerated. Not to drive if taking pain meds.
I found driving was uncomfortable as it was painful to turn at my waist until about 4 weeks.
I think everyone recovers at their own pace, I imagine each surgeon has some of their own discharge instructions as well, especially for your particular case and surgery.
I learned to listen to my body and I’ve been gradually resuming exercising and other activities, including gardening.
All the best to you 🤗

I had a right lower rt lobectomy in Feb/2026 using RATS. My surgery could be a totally different than a mid lobectomy. I'm 71 with a slim build. My husband cared for me constantly for at least 2 wks. I mean he literally cared for me for almost 3 mos, but I could have managed after 2 wks. I had a lot of nerve pain due to the small spaces between my ribs and that kept me in bed, perhaps longer than others. As I said, mid lobectomy could be a totally different experience.

Morning Monette23- I had VATS surgery. It’s been a little over 3 years. I had my surgery on a Wednesday and My husband stayed with me the Tuesday thru the next following week. I was actually up and about the next day after getting home. I hate lying in bed, it makes me feel like I’m sick! I did take many naps though, and I had purchased prepared meals for the whole family, so all he had to do was heat them. I tried to make it easy on my family as well. I was told not to lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk for at least 4 weeks, I believe, so as not to irritate my incisions and let them heal. So, i would carry a few pieces of laundry at a t time to the washer. That got me moving and I walked around the inside of my house for a few days and then ventured out to the drive way and after a couple days went up the driveway. Then about a block and so on. Take everything gradually and listen to your body. I started driving about 2 weeks later. My surgery was a segmentectomy of the upper left lobe. I was 116 pounds at the time, 5’5”, so also very slender and active. If you are alone, just make sure you have someone that is close enough to you, that can get to you quickly if needed. Also, remember that the cleaning will be there when you are able. Do NOT go walking alone at least for a while! God Bless you and watch over you!🙏❤️

@monette53, Sorry to hear you're going through this. I had an upper right lobectomy in 2018 using the Da Vinci 2 robot. I believe they're up to Da Vinci 5 by now, so the results should be even better.

Lung surgery IS major surgery so I was in the hospital for a few days afterwards. I was 58 and physically active at the time. My surgeon sent me home with a 30 day supply of Percodan or Percocet. I don't remember which, but I really only needed them for two weeks after returning home. I did wait a month, though, before driving and returning to work. The important thing to do at first is to walk and to use the spirometer to regularly expand your lungs. Over time, the lower and middle lobes will expand to give you back almost all of your lung capacity. Every body is different so your mileage may vary.

I was stage 2b when I had my surgery and eight years later I'm still working full time, so I'm very happy that I had it. I wish you all the best!

Welcome @monette23, Were you diagnosed with lung cancer, what type? That's great that you have remained active. Moving will help going into surgery and after. When is your surgery scheduled to happen?

This is an older post, but still includes some relevant information, and may prompt some questions for your surgeon's office. Such as: How long will you be in the hospital? When might you be able to cook, shower without assistance, drive, etc?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/lobectomy-scheduled-what-kind-of-home-help-will-i-need/
Here are some links with information about Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)
and Robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS).
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/video-assisted-thoracic-surgery/about/pac-20384922
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/robotic-surgery/about/pac-20394974