RTSRS is a safe and feasible procedure that may facilitate mesorectal excision. Randomized clinical trials and longer follow-up are needed to evaluate a possible influence of RTSRS on patient survival.

For rectal cancer, RTME may be as feasible and safe as LTME in terms of technical and oncologic issues. Further prospective randomized trials are necessary for conclusions to be drawn concerning definite oncologic outcomes of robotic procedures for rectal cancer.

SPLA failed to show any advantages over CLA relative to pain and cosmesis. However, SPLA is as safe as CLA (RCT number 01348464).