Experience With Transitioning From Laparoscopic to Robotic Right Colectomy

Abstract

Background and Objectives:The number of robotic colorectal procedures performed has rapidly increased, but there are only sparse data available about the robotic learning curve of expert laparoscopic colorectal surgeons. Methods:In this retrospective study, we reviewed 101 minimally invasive right colectomies consecutively performed by a single surgeon with 20 years of clinical practice fully dedicated to laparoscopic surgery. Thus, the last 59 laparoscopic resections were compared with the first 42 robotic resections. Results:The duration of the procedure was longer in the robotic group, but the conversion rate was the same in both groups. There was no difference between groups in rates of overall and severe postoperative complications, reoperation, hospital length of stay, and readmission. Number of harvested lymph nodes and oncological quality of resection defined by the pathologist were the same. Conclusions:This study suggests that the transition from the right laparoscopic colectomy with extracorporeal anastomosis to the robot-assisted right colectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis when performed by a surgeon with experience in laparoscopic colorectal surgery may not entail any increase on the morbidity rate or reduce the oncologic quality of the resection.

Perioperative and long-term outcomes of robot-assisted versus laparoscopy-assisted hemicolectomy for left-sided colon cancers: a retrospective study

“…They reported that after surgeons completed their first 27 cases, a decrease in iatrogenic complications was observed, and this trend continued as the case volume increased. Gerbaud et al further reported that the transition from laparoscopic to robot-assisted colectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis may not entail any increase in the morbidity rate or reduce the oncologic quality of the surgery when performed by a surgeon with experience in laparoscopic surgery [22]. Overall, the robotic surgical system may have some technical advantages when compared with the conventional laparoscopy which ultimately benefited the patients.…”

Comparison of clinical efficacy of robotic right colectomy and laparoscopic right colectomy for right colon tumor

“…After detailed treatment of the remaining studies, 5 other studies were excluded. Finally, 10 studies were included in our meta-analysis [1,2,5,8–14] Table 1. summarized the baseline characteristics and assessments for 10 studies.…”

A multicentre, prospective cohort study of handsewn versus stapled intracorporeal anastomosis for robotic hemicolectomy

“…The robotic platform has revolutionized minimally invasive right hemicolectomy and primary anastomosis by enabling the transition from ECA to ICA [18–20]; with a stapled ICA, robotic anastomosis is now considered to be the gold standard [13]. The ongoing development of robotic stapling technology enhances the utility and application of stapled ICA.…”