title: Robotic versus laparoscopic liver resection: a comparative study from a single center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The significant advantages of robotic surgery have expanded the scope of surgical procedures that can be performed through minimally invasive techniques. The aim of this study was to compare the perioperative outcomes between robotic and laparoscopic liver surgeries at a single center.
  
  
  METHODS
  From July 2007 to October 2011, a total of 206 patients underwent laparoscopic or robotic liver surgery at the Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. We compared the surgical outcomes between robotic liver surgery and laparoscopic liver surgery during the same period. Only patients who underwent left hemihepatectomy or left lateral sectionectomy were included in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The robotic group consisted of 13 patients who underwent robotic liver resection including 10 left lateral sectionectomies and three left hemihepatectomies. The laparoscopic group consisted of 17 patients who underwent laparoscopic liver resection during the same period including six left lateral sectionectomies and 11 left hemihepatectomies. The groups were similar with regard to age, gender, tumor type, and tumor size. There were no significant differences in perioperative outcome such as operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative liver function tests, complication rate, and hospital stay between robotic liver resection and laparoscopic liver resection. However, the medical cost was higher in the robotic group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Robotic liver resection is a safe and feasible option for liver resection in experienced hands. The authors suggest that since the robotic surgical system provides sophisticated advantages, the retrenchment of medical cost for the robotic system in addition to refining its liver transection tool may substantially increase its application in clinical practice in the near future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of HBP Surgery & Liver Transplantation, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Dong
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Ki-Hun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dong-Hwan
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Jung-Man
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Namkoong
authors.forename: Sam-Youl
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Sung-Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Sang-Kyung
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung-Gyu
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome