Robotic assisted rectopexy.
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.
Munz
Yaron
Y
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
Moorthy
Krishna
K
Kudchadkar
Rishma
R
Hernandez
Juan David
JD
Martin
Shirley
S
Darzi
Ara
A
Rockall
Timothy
T
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