Laparoscopic versus robotic right colectomy: technique and outcomes

Abstract

Minimally invasive surgery has gained worldwide acceptance in the treatment of colonic cancer in the last decades, thanks to its well-known advantages in short-term outcomes. Nevertheless, the penetrance of minimally invasive colorectal surgery still remains low. Few studies and metanalysis, to date, have analyzed the results of robotic versus laparoscopic colorectal surgery, often with conflicting conclusions. The robotic platform, thanks to its technological features, may potentially overcome the limitation of standard laparoscopy, especially when performing a complete mesocolic excision resection and an intracorporeal anastomosis. Robotic surgery could also shorten the learning curve of young novice surgeons, provided that strict protocols of structured training are applied. This paper is an update on the current available outcomes of robotic vs laparoscopic surgery in right colectomy.

Keywords: Complete mesocolic excision; Intracorporeal anastomosis; Learning curve; Minimally invasive colorectal surgery; Robotic right colectomy.