title: Initial experiences of robotic versus conventional laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer, focusing on short-term outcomes: a matched case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Robotic surgery is a new technique with the benefits of a three-dimensional view, the ability to use multi-degree-of-freedom forceps, the elimination of physiological tremors, and a stable camera view. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and short-term outcomes of robotic surgery for colorectal cancer as initial cases, compared with conventional laparoscopic surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  From July 2010 to June 2013, ten patients with left-sided colon and rectal cancer underwent robotic surgery, and 121 received conventional laparoscopic surgery. Both groups were balanced in terms of age, gender, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, body mass index (BMI), operative history, TNM staging, and tumor location. Moreover, in order to improve objectivity and approximate a randomized controlled study, we used the propensity score matching method. The matching was successful because the ROC analysis showed a well-balanced curve (C = 0.535).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following propensity score matching, ten patients were included in the robotic surgery group and 20 patients were included in the conventional laparoscopic surgery group. There were no significant differences in the short-term clinicopathologic outcomes between the robotic surgery group and the conventional laparoscopic surgery group. However, the operative time was significantly longer in the robotic surgery group than in the conventional laparoscopic surgery group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were no significant differences between the robotic surgery group and the conventional laparoscopic surgery group with respect to short-term clinicopathologic outcomes, with the exception of the operative time. Our early experience indicates that robotic surgery is a promising tool, particularly in patients with rectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Applied Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan. dannte5426@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Applied Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan. hiroegi@yahoo.co.jp.|Advanced Medical Skills Training Center, Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan. hiroegi@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Egi
authors.affiliation: Advanced Medical Skills Training Center, Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan. m-hattori@hiroshima-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hattori
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Applied Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan. takahsuzuki@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Takahisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Applied Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan. manabus@fuga.ocn.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimomura
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Applied Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan. ktanabe2@hiroshima-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hiroshima City Hospital, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan. mokajima@hiroshima-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Masazumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okajima
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Applied Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan. hohdan@hiroshima-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohdan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D061646:Operative Time; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D057216:Propensity Score; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*