title: Robotic assisted rectopexy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  During the last 3 years, robotic surgery has had a considerable impact on minimally invasive surgery in a wide range of specialties. This study describes the surgical technique and preliminary results of our first 6 cases of robotic assisted suture rectopexy.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a period of 13 months 6 patients with full thickness rectal prolapse were operated on with the da Vinci surgical system. All patients were considered suitable for a suture rectopexy. Setting-up time, procedure time, patient recovery, and hospital stay were recorded and compared with the current literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All operations were completed successfully using the robotic system. There were no major complications and no deaths. Mean setting-up time was 28 minutes, mean operation time was 127 minutes, and mean hospital stay was 6 days. At 3 to 6 months of follow-up all patients are in good health, with no signs of recurrence and no reports of constipation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Robotic assisted suture rectopexy is feasible and safe and apparently meets accepted standards of laparoscopic surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology and Technology, Imperial College School of Science, Technology and Medicine, St. Mary's Campus, London, United Kingdom. yaron.munz@ic.ac.uk
authors.forename: Yaron
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Munz
authors.forename: Krishna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moorthy
authors.forename: Rishma
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kudchadkar
authors.forename: Juan David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Ara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Darzi
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rockall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012005:Rectal Prolapse / Q000601:surgery*; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods; D013537:Sutures