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Outcomes from robotic colorectal cancer resection comparable to laparoscopic surgery
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ORLANDO, Fla. — Preliminary data indicate that robotic surgery for colorectal cancer resection produced outcomes comparable to those from laparoscopic procedures, with fewer conversions to open surgery, according to a study presented at Digestive Disease Week.
Researchers performed a literature review of 13 papers published between 2000 and 2012 assessing the performance of robotic and laparoscopic techniques for primary colorectal cancer (CRC) resection. Evaluated factors included demographics, estimated blood loss (EBL), number of resected nodes, lengths of postoperative hospital stay and conversions.
Six studies directly compared robotic and laparoscopic surgeries, and seven examined robotic surgery only. Complications were reported in 10 studies and observed in all groups. The most commonly observed complications included ileus, anastomotic leak and wound infection.
Among evaluable studies, investigators noted significantly more conversions among evaluated laparoscopic procedures (mean 6.3%, SD 1.30 vs. mean 2.74%, SD 0.70). No significant differences were observed between techniques in EBL (231.81 mL, SD 1,231.09 for robotic procedures vs. 281.25 mL, SD 230.94), number of resected nodes (16.15 nodes, SD 3.48 vs. 18.58 nodes, SD 4.11), postoperative hospital stay (6.89 days, SD 2.02 vs. 6.78 days, SD 1.14) or procedure length (281.2 minutes, SD 112.11 vs. 238.35 minutes, SD 108.12).
“Preliminary data from our review of a select number of studies that compare robotic vs. laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer resection show that there’s really no statistically significant difference between estimated blood loss, number of nodes resected, length of stay in the hospital postoperatively and the length of the procedure,” researcher Fatima G. Wilder, MD, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, told Healio.com. “The data’s encouraging, in that there may have initially been some hesitation in using a robot for resection of patients who have colorectal cancer. However, this suggests that this offers just as good, if not better outcomes.”
Wilder said more long-term follow-up is necessary to assess patient outcomes.
For more information:
Wilder FG. Su1601: Robotics in Colorectal Surgery: A Paradigm Shift? Presented at: Digestive Disease Week 2013; May 18-21, Orlando, Fla.