PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate outcome after robot-assisted rectal cancer surgery (RARCS). We focused on conversion rate, postoperative complications, pathological evaluation (adequacy of resection margins), and bowel function (low anterior resection syndrome (LARS)) 1 year after surgery. METHODS: An observational study of prospectively registered patients with data obtained from medical records. Data comprise the initial 208 rectal cancer patients operated with robot-assisted surgery at a single Danish university hospital from October 2011 to October 2014. RESULTS: In total, 27 procedures (13%) were converted to open surgery, and 23 of the 27(85%) conversions were in the obese and overweight patients. The anastomotic leak rate was 12 (9%), and further 5 (2%) developed a complication requiring re-operation (ileus, bleeding, wound abscess). In total, 14 (7%) patients had a circumferential resection margin (CRM) ≤ 1 mm (R1-resection). In regard to bowel function, 15/22 (68%) of TME patients had major LARS at 6 months follow-up but at 12 months follow-up this proportion was reduced to 18/34 (53%). CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes after RARCS at a single high-volume university center are overall comparable to outcomes reported from laparoscopic surgery. The results are satisfying because they are achieved during implementation of RARCS. Randomized trials are, however, needed and focus should especially be on long-term follow-up in regard to functional outcome.
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate outcome after robot-assisted rectal cancer surgery (RARCS). We focused on conversion rate, postoperative complications, pathological evaluation (adequacy of resection margins), and bowel function (low anterior resection syndrome (LARS)) 1 year after surgery. METHODS: An observational study of prospectively registered patients with data obtained from medical records. Data comprise the initial 208 rectal cancerpatients operated with robot-assisted surgery at a single Danish university hospital from October 2011 to October 2014. RESULTS: In total, 27 procedures (13%) were converted to open surgery, and 23 of the 27(85%) conversions were in the obese and overweight patients. The anastomotic leak rate was 12 (9%), and further 5 (2%) developed a complication requiring re-operation (ileus, bleeding, wound abscess). In total, 14 (7%) patients had a circumferential resection margin (CRM) ≤ 1 mm (R1-resection). In regard to bowel function, 15/22 (68%) of TME patients had major LARS at 6 months follow-up but at 12 months follow-up this proportion was reduced to 18/34 (53%). CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes after RARCS at a single high-volume university center are overall comparable to outcomes reported from laparoscopic surgery. The results are satisfying because they are achieved during implementation of RARCS. Randomized trials are, however, needed and focus should especially be on long-term follow-up in regard to functional outcome.
Authors: Pierre J Guillou; Philip Quirke; Helen Thorpe; Joanne Walker; David G Jayne; Adrian M H Smith; Richard M Heath; Julia M Brown Journal: Lancet Date: 2005 May 14-20 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: M Gómez Ruiz; J Alonso Martin; C Cagigas Fernández; J I Martín Parra; H Real Noval; B Martín Rivas; E Toledo Martínez; J Castillo Diego; M Gómez Fleitas Journal: Eur J Surg Oncol Date: 2016-03-29 Impact factor: 4.424