Technical assessment of porcine enteroenterostomy performed with ZEUS robotic technology.
OBJECTIVE
Limitations of minimally invasive pediatric surgery include the inability to perform precise anastomoses of 2 to 15 mm. Robotic technology facilitates the performance of endoscopic microsurgical procedures. This study examined the technical feasibility of performing an enteroenterostomy in piglets utilizing ZEUS robotic technology.


METHODS
Ten piglets (6.5 to 8.5 kg) underwent enteroenterostomy. Standard laparoscopic techniques were used in the control group (n = 5), and ZEUS robotic technology was used in the experimental group (n = 5). AESOP controlled the camera in both groups. Anesthesia time; surgery time; robotic set-up time; and anastomotic time, patency, diameter, and integrity were compared.


RESULTS
No statistical difference existed between the means of the control and experimental groups for anesthesia time (176.0 v 154.0 minute; P =.63), surgery time (143.0 v 139.2 minute; P =.92), anastomosis time (109.4 v 93.0 minutes; P =.56), AESOP set-up time (4.2 v 7.0 minutes; P =.51), and anastomotic diameter (7.062 v 7.362 mm; P =.62). All anastomoses were patent without narrowing. The ZEUS cases averaged 14 minutes faster than the standard laparoscopic cases, even with the ZEUS set-up time included.


CONCLUSIONS
These data supports the hypothesis that robotic-assisted enteroenterostomy is technically feasible. ZEUS robotic technology will potentially play an important role in expanding the applications of minimally invasive pediatric surgery.
Hollands
C M
CM
Department of Surgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport and Center for Biomedical Technology Innovation Biomedical Research Foundation, Shreveport, LA 71130, USA.
Dixey
L N
LN
Torma
M J
MJ
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D007422:Intestines / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation; D023421:Models, Animal; D011336:Probability; D012371:Robotics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome