The purpose of this review was to form a collaborative opinion regarding the utility of robotic technology, specifically the da Vinci robot (Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA), for bariatric surgery. Eleven surgeons are currently using the da Vinci system to perform laparoscopic bariatric surgery. The surgeons were queried about the type of robotic bariatric surgery and number of cases performed, complications, and any available outcomes data. They were also asked to give their opinion of the current state of robotic bariatric surgery. Ten of the 11 surgeons responded. Six surgeons are currently using the system for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, three for laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, and three for biliary pancreatic diversion. Robotic technology is successfully being applied to bariatric surgery in a few advanced minimally invasive surgery centers throughout the United States.

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Esophageal leiomyoma represents 70-80% of all benign esophageal tumors but only approximately 0.5% of all esophageal neoplasms; optimal surgical treatment consists of local resection. We present the first reported robotic-assisted thoracoscopic resection of two patients with esophageal leiomyoma using the daVinci Surgical System. Operative technique and technical considerations are presented.

The current study demonstrates that LAGB is a simpler, less invasive, and safer procedure than RYGB. Although mean percentage excess body weight loss (%EBWL) in RYGB patients increased rapidly during the first postoperative year, it remained nearly unchanged at 3 years. In contrast, in LAGB patients weight loss was slower but steady, achieving satisfactory %EBWL at 3 years. Therefore, we believe that LAGB should be considered the initial approach since it is safer than RYGB and is very effective at achieving weight loss.