title: Robotic-assisted Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: update from 2 high-volume centers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is a challenging operation in the most experienced hands. Robotic surgery allows the capabilities of the minimally invasive surgeon to be extended. An increasing number of robotic gastric bypasses are being performed each year with the assumption that the complication rates are decreased. The objectives of the present study were to review the results of robotic-assisted RYGB (RARYGB) from 2 high-volume centers, including 1 university and 1 private practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the most recently compiled, largest series of RARYGB in the world to show the effectiveness, morbidity, and mortality of this method. Databases were searched for patients undergoing RARYGB from 2002 to 2010, and the endpoints were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1100 RARYGBs matched our search. The patients had a mean preoperative age of 46.9 years, mean weight of 131.9 kg, and mean body mass index of 47.9 kg/m(2). The mean operative time was 155 minutes. There were no conversions. The mean body mass index was 39.8 kg/m(2) at 3 months postoperatively (79% follow-up). Complications were few, and included 2 cases of pulmonary embolism (.19%), 3 cases of deep venous thrombosis (.27%), 1 case of gastrojejunal anastomotic leak (.09%), and 9 cases of staple line bleeding (.82%). No patients died.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RARYGB is safe and effective. Although the operative time might be increased, the complication rates, most notably of anastomotic leak, are extremely low.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, University of Texas Medical School-Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tieu
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toder
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D061847:Hospitals, High-Volume / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D061646:Operative Time; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome