title: Instituting a robot-assisted surgery programme at a tertiary care cancer centre.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The initial experience of a gynaecological oncology robotic surgery programme at a tertiary care cancer centre is described.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the perioperative outcomes of 76 patients offered robot-assisted surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-three patients underwent robot-assisted surgery; three cases were converted to laparotomy; 51% of patients underwent treatment for endometrial cancer; 18% had ovarian cancer risk reduction surgery; and 8% were treated for uterine leiomyomata. Median body mass index (BMI) was 30. Median estimated blood loss, operative time, and length of stay were 150 ml, 195 min and 1 day, respectively. The total major complication rate was 6.8% and the total minor complication rate was 15.1%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Robot-assisted surgery is safe and appropriate for gynaecological patients undergoing surgical management. A gynaecological oncology robot-assisted programme can be easily established in a tertiary care cancer centre.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA. nefertiti.dupont@roswellpark.org
authors.forename: Nefertiti C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: duPont
authors.forename: Khurshid A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Guru
authors.forename: George B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Iskander
authors.forename: Kunle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Odunsi
authors.forename: Shashikant B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Lele
authors.forename: Kerry J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Rodabaugh
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004501:Education, Medical; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D009043:Motor Activity; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D013337:Students, Medical; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014584:User-Computer Interface