Robert J. McKenna
Papers
2
Total Citations
242
H-Index
2
About
Robert J. McKenna is a pioneering thoracic surgeon whose research has fundamentally shaped the evolution of minimally invasive lung cancer surgery. His work centers on comparing surgical techniques and advancing novel approaches to reduce patient trauma while maintaining oncologic rigor. McKenna’s landmark 2013 study, which analyzed data from the Premier hospital database, directly compared robot-assisted thoracic surgical lobectomy with conventional video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and wedge resection. With 231 citations, this work provided crucial evidence on the safety, efficacy, and outcomes of robotic approaches, helping to guide clinical decision-making in a rapidly changing field. In his 2017 review of novel techniques, McKenna contextualized the leap from thoracotomy to VATS lobectomy—a transformation that occurred roughly two decades ago—and affirmed that minimally invasive lobectomy with hilar lymphadenectomy is now the standard of care for lung cancer. His contributions have not only documented this surgical revolution but have also helped validate robotic surgery as a viable, oncologically sound alternative. McKenna’s research continues to influence thoracic surgery training and practice worldwide.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2Novel Techniques and Approaches to Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery.11 citations · 2017