Robotic Surgery for Rectal Cancer: Initial Experience from 30 Consecutive Patients

Abstract

Robotic rectal surgery (hybrid or totally robotic) is a safe and feasible procedure when performed by experienced laparoscopic surgeons.

Does Robotic Rectal Cancer Surgery Offer Improved Early Postoperative Outcomes?

“…22 therefore, before robotic surgery can be accepted as the standard approach for resection of rectal cancer, it should be confirmed that the technique provides better short-term outcomes and equal or improved oncologic and functional results in comparison with other approaches. [48][49][50] in the lack of evidence from prospective controlled randomized trials, a systematic review of the currently available literature might help to critically assess such an argument.…”

What Have We Gained by Performing Robotic Rectal Resection? Evaluation of 64 Consecutive Patients Who Underwent Laparoscopic or Robotic Low Anterior Resection for Rectal Adenocarcinoma

“…6,7 Robotic surgery is thought to help overcome the limitations of laparoscopy for rectal resection in patients with cancer, but conducting randomized studies with high patient numbers on this topic is not possible currently even at high-volume centers specialized in colorectal surgery because of high costs of the robotic equipment and inexperience of surgeons on robotic rectal procedures. Since the publication of our outcomes on robotic rectal resection, 8 there have been a few comparative studies published comparing laparoscopic and robotic rectal surgery. 9,10 In this study, we present our results on patients undergoing robotic or laparoscopic low anterior resection (LAR) consecutively for rectal adenocarcinoma.…”

First Experience with Three-Dimensional Thoracolaparoscopy in Esophageal Cancer Surgery

“…7-10 These limitations are most prominent in deep narrow spaces so, theoretically, in the thoracic phase of an esophagectomy. 20 For other surgical procedures, the value of 3D vision has been frequently described. 9,14,21,22 The addition of the third dimension in endoscopy entails a natural view on the operating field, which facilitates orientation in space and identification of dissection planes.…”