Robotic and Laparoscopic Surgery for Treatment of Colorectal Diseases

PURPOSE In the last ten years, several robotic systems have been developed to overcome the loss of the three-dimensional view and dexterity characteristic of laparoscopic surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the traditional laparoscopic approach and robotic techniques in the treatment of colorectal diseases.METHODS The study compares a consecutive series of patients treated surgically for colorectal disease from June 2001 to May 2003 with the da Vinci robotic system (Intuitive Surgical^®) and a matched number of patients who underwent conventional laparoscopy during the same time interval. The factors analyzed were the time required to prepare the patient and the room, total time of surgery, length of specimens, number of lymph nodes retrieved, blood loss, complications, and postoperative results.RESULTS The study included 106 patients (53 in each group). No differences were observed in total time of surgery (laparoscopic group, 222 ± 77 minutes vs. robotic group, 240 ± 61 minutes), specimen length (laparoscopic group, 29 ± 11 cm vs. robotic group, 27 ± 13 cm), or number of lymph nodes retrieved (laparoscopic group, 16 ± 9 vs. robotic group, 17 ± 10). It took significantly longer to prepare the operating room and patient in the robotic group (24 ± 12 minutes) than in the laparoscopic group (18 ± 7 minutes). There were three conversions to laparotomy in the laparoscopic group; in the robotic group, two cases were converted to laparoscopy and three to hand-assisted laparoscopy. No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of recovery of bowel function and postoperative hospital stay.CONCLUSIONS Robot-assisted surgery proved to be as safe and effective as laparoscopic techniques in the treatment of colorectal diseases. Because of its dexterity and three-dimensional view, the da Vinci system was particularly useful in specific stages of the procedure, e.g., takedown of the splenic flexure, dissection of a narrow pelvis, identification of nervous plexus, and handsewn anastomosis. The cost-effectiveness of the procedure still needs to be evaluated.     

Current Status of Robotic Surgery

Surgery has increasingly become a technology-driven specialty. Robotic assistance is considered one innovation within abdominal surgery over the past decade that has the potential to compensate for the drawbacks of conventional laparoscopy. The dramatic evolution of robotic surgery over the past 10 years is likely to be eclipsed by even greater advances over the next decade. We review the current status of robotic technology in surgery. The Medline database was searched for the terms “robotic surgery, telesurgery, and laparoscopy.” A total of 2,496 references were found. All references were considered for information on robotic surgery in advanced laparoscopy. Further references were obtained through cross-referencing the bibliography cited in each work. There is a paucity of control studies on a sufficient number of subjects in robot-assisted surgeries in all fields. Studies that meet more stringent clinical trials criteria show that robot-assisted surgery appears comparable to traditional surgery in terms of feasibility and outcomes but that costs associated with robot-assisted surgery are higher because of longer operating times and expense of equipment. While a limited number of studies on the da Vinci robotic system have proven the benefit of this approach in regard to patient outcomes, including significantly reduced blood loss, lower percentage of postoperative complications, and shorter hospital stays, there are mechanical and institutional risks that must be more fully addressed. Robotic assistance will remain an intensively discussed subject since clinical benefits for most procedures have not yet been proven. While the benefit still remains open to discussion, robotic systems are spreading and are available worldwide in tertiary centers.     

Full robot-assisted gastrectomy with intracorporeal robot-sewn anastomosis produces satisfying outcomes

AIM:To evaluate the feasibility and safety of full robotassisted gastrectomy with intracorporeal robot handsewn anastomosis in the treatment of gastric cancer.METHODS:From September 2011 to March 2013,110consecutive patients with gastric cancer at the authors’institution were enrolled for robotic gastrectomies.According to tumor location,total gastrectomy,distal or proximal subtotal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy was fully performed by the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System.All construction,including Roux-en-Y jejunal limb,esophagojejunal,gastroduodenal and gastrojejunal anastomoses were fully carried out by the intracorporeal robot-sewn method.At the end of surgery,the specimen was removed through a 3-4 cm incision at the umbilicus trocar point.The details of the surgical technique are well illustrated.The benefits in terms of surgical and oncologic outcomes are well documented,as well as the failure rate and postoperative complications.RESULTS:From a total of 110 enrolled patients,radical gastrectomy could not be performed in 2 patients due to late stage disease;1 patient was converted to laparotomy because of uncontrollable hemorrhage,and1 obese patient was converted due to difficult exposure;2 patients underwent extra-corporeal anastomosis by minilaparotomy to ensure adequate tumor margin.Robot-sewn anastomoses were successfully performed for 12 proximal,38 distal and 54 total gastrectomies.The average surgical time was 272.52±53.91 min and the average amount of bleeding was 80.78±32.37 mL.The average number of harvested lymph nodes was 23.1±5.3.All specimens showed adequate surgical margin.With regard to tumor staging,26,32 and 46 patients were staged asⅠ,ⅡandⅢ,respectively.The average hospitalization time after surgery was 6.2 d.One patient experienced a duodenal stump anastomotic leak,which was mild and treated conservatively.One patient was readmitted for intra-abdominal infection and was treated conservatively.Jejunal afferent loop obstruction occurred in 1 patient,who underwent re-operati     

Tiroidectomía endoscópica transoral por vía vestibular: TOETVA

Transoral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy Vestibular Approach (TOETVA) is a novel technique that allows the thyroid to be approached without visible scars, as it is performed through a natural orifice. It was first described and developed in Asia where due to sociocultural reasons neck scars are considered a stigma. This technique, as we now nowadays, and its preliminary results, were first reported by Angkoon Anuwong in August 2015 at the International Association of Endocrine Surgeons (IAES) world surgery congress held in Bangkok.Here we present the TOETVA approach, step-by-step, in order it could be safely replicated, aiming also it can be spread within the therapeutic framework of endocrine surgery. However, it is important to remark that, as happens in most of remote approaches, it is only suitable for a small percentage of patients.     

全息影像术中导航在泌尿外科腹腔镜和机器人手术中的应用价值

目的探讨全息影像术中导航在泌尿外科腹腔镜和机器人手术中的应用价值。方法回顾性分析2019年1—12月北京和睦家医院等19家医疗中心收治的86例患者的病例资料,临床诊断包括肾肿瘤78例,膀胱癌2例,肾上腺肿瘤2例,肾囊肿1例,前列腺癌1例,汗腺癌淋巴结转移1例,根治性膀胱切除术后盆腔转移瘤1例。其中,32例接受标准腹腔镜手术,分别为肾部分切除术(LPN)27例,根治性前列腺切除术1例,根治性膀胱切除术2例,肾上腺肿瘤切除术2例;54例接受达芬奇机器人手术,分别为肾部分切除术(RAPN)51例,腹膜后淋巴结清扫术1例,双侧肾囊肿去顶减压术1例,盆腔转移肿瘤切除术1例。两种术式的肾部分切除术患者中41例有可统计的临床数据,其中RAPN 23例,LPN 18例。男26例,女15例;中位年龄53.5(24~76)岁;中位R.E.N.A.L评分7.8(4~11)分。专业工程师根据86例术前增强CT检查图像和诊断报告重建全息影像。术前,全息影像可帮助术者对供应肿瘤或手术切除部位的动静脉血管、淋巴结和神经的立体空间结构及相互关系有更直观的认识,协助术前手术规划。在术中将全息影像与腹腔镜监视器中的术野图像进行实时追踪和融合,实现术中导航。结果本组86例手术均顺利完成。术中通过人工调整全息影像,可提示重要血管如肾动脉和肾静脉在体内的投影位置,帮助术者定位血管、淋巴结和其他重要解剖结构的位置,便于精准分离。本研究采用标准腹腔镜手术和达芬奇机器人手术的肾部分切除术患者中共41例有可统计的临床数据。41例中位手术时间140(50~225)min,其中RAPN为140(50~215)min,LPN为160(80~225)min;中位热缺血时间23(14~60)min,其中RAPN为21(17~40)min,LPN为25(14~60)min;中位出血量80(5~1200)ml,其中RAPN为150(30~1200)ml,LPN为50(5~1200)ml。术中无周围重要脏器损伤。2例LPN患者出现ClavienⅡ级并发症,1例出血1200 ml给予输血,另一例血肿未予处理,自行吸收。此2例分别为前、后肾门肿瘤,R.E.N.A.L评分均为11分。结论全息影像术中导航可协助术者在腹腔镜和机器人手术中对重要的解剖结构进行定位、识别,在减少术中组织和器官损伤、降低手术并发症和提高手术成功率方面有重要的应用价值。     

Surgical complications occurring during minimally invasive sentinel lymph node detection in endometrial cancer patients. A systematic review of the literature and metanalysis

IntroductionEndometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecological cancer. Sentinel lymph node (SLN) technique has been adopted worldwide and showed lower morbidity and superimposable survival outcomes than the systematic lymphadenectomy (LND). Although these encouraging results, no meta-analyzes were performed on surgical complications during SLN research among patients undergoing laparoscopic (L) versus robotic surgery (R). The present review aims to report surgical complications during laparoscopic versus robotic SLN technique.MethodsThe Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyzes (PRISMA) and the Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines have been followed for the present meta-analysis.ResultsSix studies, including 769 participants, were included. L-LND resulted in a significantly higher risk of operative complications relative to L-SLN (RR 2.10 [95% CI 1.37 to 3.21]). The risk of complications was comparable between R-SLN and L-SLN (RR 2.32 [95% CI 0.04–121.02]) and between R-LND and L-LND (RR 2.17 [95% CI 0.04–126.69]). According to the SUCRA analysis, L-SLN and R-SLN had the highest chances of being ranked first among proposed surgical procedures (SUCRA 48.9% and 28.4% respectively).ConclusionsOur study reported a lower surgical complications rate in patients undergoing L-SLN technique compared to L-LND. A lower rate of surgical complications was also reported for the R-SLN technique compared to the R-LND. Both laparoscopic and robotic SLN surgical techniques were found to be safe surgical procedures.     

达芬奇机器人胃癌根治术临床疗效评价

目的探讨达芬奇机器人胃癌根治术的可行性及近期疗效。方法回顾性分析我科2012年2月-2014年5月手术治疗的114例胃癌患者的临床、病理资料。其中50例患者行机器人远端胃癌根治术,64例患者行腹腔镜远端胃癌根治术,比较两组患者手术情况及短期疗效。结果与腹腔镜组相比,机器人组患者术中失血量少、淋巴结清扫数目多、手术时间长,比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;术后胃肠道功能恢复时间、术后住院时间及并发症发生率,比较差异无统计学意义。中位随访16.1（3～30）个月,机器人组复发转移5例,死亡4例;腹腔镜组复发转移10例,死亡8例。结论对比腹腔镜胃切除术,达芬奇机器人胃癌根治术能获得较大的淋巴结清扫范围,且出血量少、安全、可行。     

Feasibility and perioperative outcomes of robotic-assisted surgery in the management of recurrent ovarian cancer: A multi-institutional study

Objectives

Minimally invasive surgery for recurrent ovarian cancer is generally not performed. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and surgical outcomes of robotic-assisted surgery in the management of recurrent ovarian cancer.

Methods

Eligible patients included those with confirmed recurrent ovarian cancer amenable to surgical resection and in which a complete resection was thought to be feasible with the use of the robotic platform. Patients with evidence of carcinomatosis were not considered for a robotic approach. Clinical and pathologic data were abstracted from the medical records. Appropriate statistical tests were performed using SPSS statistical software program (SPSS 20.0 Inc., Chicago, IL).

Results

A total of 48 patients were identified. Thirty-six (75%) patients had a recurrent mass or masses isolated to one anatomic region (pelvis or abdomen). Conversion to laparotomy was necessary in 4 (8.3%) cases. In cases not requiring conversion to laparotomy, the median operative time, EBL, and length of stay were 179.5 min, 50 cc, and 1 day, respectively. An optimal debulking was achieved in 36 (82%) cases. Complications occurred in 6 (13.6%) cases. The median operative time, EBL, length of stay, and complications were all statistically significantly lower in the cases not converted to laparotomy compared to those that were (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

This study suggests that select patients with recurrent ovarian cancer in the absence of carcinomatosis may be candidates for secondary surgical cytoreduction via a robotic approach. Surgical and postoperative outcomes appear to be favorable compared to reports of laparotomy in recurrent ovarian cancer.