Staci E. Beamer, M.D., on the rise of robotic lung surgery | CHEST 2026

Robotic surgery has become the dominant approach for lobectomy in the U.S., with its share of cases climbing from 49% in 2020 to 70% in 2024, according to the database thoracic surgeons use to track surgical approaches. Staci E. Beamer, M.D., a thoracic surgeon discussed the trend at the 2026 annual CHEST meeting in Phoenix earlier this week.

That growth has come largely at the expense of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), the other minimally invasive option, while also reducing open surgery overall. Beamer attributes the shift in part to wider availability of robots and to changes in training. Robotic training is now an expected part of the curriculum, she said, and surgeons who learn on the platform are more likely to keep using it in practice.

Surgeon preference also plays a role. Many thoracic surgeons believe a robotic approach lets them avoid converting to an open operation, which matters because conversion can bring more pain and a different recovery for patients. "If there's a platform that helps you convert less, a lot of surgeons just prefer that, or they feel more comfortable with it," Beamer said.

Beamer also explained what counts as minimally invasive: the ribs are not spread with a retractor, as they are in a thoracotomy. Incision length matters less, though 8 centimeters or less is generally considered minimally invasive. Not every robotic system is certified for thoracic procedures, and Beamer expects more platforms to enter the space over the next five to 10 years, creating competition.

For payers and health systems, Beamer noted that coverage has not been a barrier in the U.S. Robotic procedures are billed at the same rate as VATS, and open surgery carries its own code, but all three are considered standard approaches, so surgeons do not face pushback or denials based on the approach they choose.