Early outcomes of the first Brazilian experience in totally robotic bariatric surgery.
BACKGROUND
Currently, bariatric surgery is the most effective therapy for morbid obesity, and the laparoscopic approach is considered gold-standard for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Totally robotic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass has been proposed as a major evolution in minimally invasive bariatric surgery and its use is becoming more widespread.


OBJECTIVE
To provide an early report of the first Brazilian case-series of totally robotic gastric bypass and perioperative short-term outcomes.


METHODS
All consecutive patients who underwent totally robotic gastric bypass at two recognized centers of bariatric surgery were included. Patient demographic data, body mass index, operative times, hospital stay, complications and mortality in the 30 postoperative days were recorded. The surgeons received the same training program before the clinical procedures and all the surgeries were performed under the supervision of an experienced robotic surgeon.


RESULTS
The surgeries were performed by five surgeons and included 68 patients (52 women - 76.5%), with a mean age of 40.5 years (range 18 to 59) and mean BMI of 41.3 (35.2 - 59.2). Total mean operative time was 158 minutes (range 90 to 230) and mean overall hospital stay was 48 h. Postoperative surgical complication rate (30 day) was 5.9%, with three minor and one major complication. There was no mortality, leak or stricture.


CONCLUSIONS
Even with surgeons in early learning curves, the robotic approach within a well-structured training model was safe and reproducible for the surgical treatment of the morbid obesity.
Almino Cardoso
AC
Ramos
Carlos Eduardo
CE
Domene
Paula
P
Volpe
Denis
D
Pajecki
Luiz Alfredo Vieira
LA
D'Almeida
Manoela Galvão
MG
Ramos
Eduardo Lemos de Souza
EL
Bastos
Keith Chae
KC
Kim
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012371:Robotics; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult