title: Comparison of the operative outcomes and learning curves between laparoscopic and robotic gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Minimally invasive surgery, including laparoscopic and robotic gastrectomy, has become more popular in the treatment of gastric cancer. However, few studies have compared the learning curves between laparoscopic and robotic gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were prospectively collected between July 2008 and Aug 2014. A total of 145 patients underwent minimally invasive gastrectomy for gastric cancer by a single surgeon, including 73 laparoscopic and 72 robotic gastrectomies. The clinicopathologic characteristics, operative outcomes and learning curves were compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the laparoscopic group, the robotic group was associated with less blood loss and longer operative time. After the surgeon learning curves were overcome for each technique, the operative outcomes became similar between the two groups except longer operative time in the robotic group. After accumulating more cases of robotic gastrectomy, the operative time in the laparoscopic group decreased dramatically.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After overcoming the learning curves, the operative outcomes became similar between laparoscopic and robotic gastrectomy. The experience of robotic gastrectomy could affect the learning process of laparoscopic gastrectomy.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan; School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuo-Hung
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Division of Colon & Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan; School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yuan-Tzu
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan; School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Liang
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan; En Chu Kong Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jen-Hao
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan; National Yang-Ming University Hospital, Yilan City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Su-Shun
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan; School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Anna Fen-Yau
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research and Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan; Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Hwa
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chiou
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan; School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chew-Wun
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan; School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Shyr
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D059032:Learning Curve; D008297:Male; D061646:Operative Time; D012371:Robotics; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome