Robotic surgery for gastrointestinal malignancies.
BACKGROUND
This report describes our initial experience with the use of robotic-assisted surgery for the treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies.


METHODS
Between November 2004 and July 2007, 73 robotic procedures (26 female, 47 male) for GI cancer were performed and retrospectively reviewed. Procedures included 25 oesophagectomies, 11 gastrectomies and 37 rectal resections. The median body mass index (BMI) for this patient population was 26.


RESULTS
The median operative times for rectal, oesophageal and gastric resections were 285, 482 and 430 min, respectively. There were three conversions. Major postoperative morbidity was 16% for rectal, 32% for oesophageal and 9% for gastric procedures. The leak rate was 11% for rectal, 16% for oesophageal and 9% for gastric anastomoses. Median length of stay was 4, 11 and 5 days, respectively. The median number of lymph nodes harvested was 13, 22, and 26 for rectal, oesophageal and gastric lymphadenectomies, respectively. At a median follow-up of 9 months, one patient developed a port site recurrence; 30 day mortality was zero.


CONCLUSIONS
This initial experience suggests that the robotic approach is safe and feasible for a variety of radical oncological surgical procedures.
Anderson
C
C
Department of General and Oncologic Surgery, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA.
Hellan
M
M
Kernstine
K
K
Ellenhorn
J
J
Lai
L
L
Trisal
V
V
Pigazzi
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome