Key Points

• A thorough understanding of anterior mediastinal anatomy is key to a complete robotic thymectomy.
• The robotic approach to thymectomy is safe and efficient for the majority of patients without the added morbidity of a sternotomy.
• Thoracic surgeons must familiarize themselves with the differences in port placement and surgical technique for approaching anterior mediastinal masses robotically.
• Critical steps include careful division of the thymus off the innominate vein superiorly and identification of the phrenic nerves laterally.
• Short and long-term outcomes following robotic thymectomy for both benign and malignant disease are excellent.