title: Robot-assisted distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer: initial experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study evaluated the feasibility and safety of robotic surgery in gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between April and October 2009, 12 patients who were diagnosed with stage I gastric cancer underwent robot-assisted distal gastrectomy (RADG) using the da Vinci System (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA). The clinical and pathological characteristics of the patients and surgical outcome were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All procedures were completed successfully, with no laparoscopic or open conversion. The mean operating time was 253 minutes (range 170-365), and the mean blood loss was 135 mL (range 30-500). The resection margin was negative in all specimens, and a mean of 46 (range 21-115) lymph nodes was retrieved. The mean time to resume a soft diet and hospital stay was 4.6 and 6.6 days, respectively. Acute pancreatitis occurred in 1 patient and resolved with conservative management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our initial experience, RADG was feasible, enabling a fast patient recovery and good operative outcome.
authors: Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Ban Po-Dong, Seocho-Gu 137-701, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Han Hong
authors: HH
authors: Lee
authors: Hoon
authors: H
authors: Hur
authors: Hun
authors: H
authors: Jung
authors: Hae Myung
authors: HM
authors: Jeon
authors: Cho Hyun
authors: CH
authors: Park
authors: Kyo Young
authors: KY
authors: Song
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D019160:Endosonography; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome