title: Is robot-assisted laparoscopic right colectomy more effective than the conventional laparoscopic procedure? A meta-analysis of short-term outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The use of robotic technology procedures has proved to be safe and effective, arising as a helpful alternative to standard laparoscopic surgery in a variety of colorectal procedures. However, the role of robotic assistance in laparoscopic right colectomy is still not demonstrated.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review of the literature was carried out performing an unrestricted search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and Google Scholar up to 30th August 2014. Reference lists of retrieved articles and review articles were manually searched for other relevant studies. We meta-analyzed the currently available data regarding the incidence of anastomotic leakage, operative time, intra-operative blood loss, conversion rate, retrieved lymphnodes, post-operative hemorrhage, intra-abdominal abscess, time to 1st flatus, post-operative ileus, wound infection, incisional hernia, not-surgical complications, total complications, hospital stay, post-operative mortality, surgery-related costs and total costs, in conventional laparoscopic right colectomy (LRC) compared to robot-assisted laparoscopic right colectomy (RRC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall 8 studies were included, thus resulting in 616 patients. The meta-analysis showed that the RRC decreases the intra-operative blood loss and the time to the 1st flatus, if compared to the LRC. On the other hand, the robotic assistance increases the operative time and the surgery-related costs. No statistically significant differences were found about the other post-operative outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RRC may ensure limited improvements in post-operative outcome, thus increasing procedural costs and without a proved enhanced oncological accuracy to date, if compared to the LRC.
authors.affiliation: "Bellinzona e Valli" Regional Hospital, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland; University of Perugia, Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Via G. Dottori, 06100 Perugia, Italy. Electronic address: rondellif@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rondelli
authors.affiliation: "Bellinzona e Valli" Regional Hospital, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland. Electronic address: ruben.balzarotti@eoc.ch.
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Balzarotti
authors.affiliation: "Bellinzona e Valli" Regional Hospital, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland. Electronic address: fabio.villa@eoc.ch.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.affiliation: "Bellinzona e Valli" Regional Hospital, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland. Electronic address: adriano.guerra@eoc.ch.
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.affiliation: General and Specialized Surgery, "Santa Maria" Hospital, Via T. Di Joannuccio, 05100 Terni, Italy. Electronic address: nicolaavenia@libero.it.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Avenia
authors.affiliation: "San Giovanni Battista" Hospital, General Surgery, USL, Umbria 2, Via M. Arcamone, 06034, Foligno, Perugia, Italy. Electronic address: enrico.mariani@uslumbria2.it.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mariani
authors.affiliation: "San Giovanni Battista" Hospital, General Surgery, USL, Umbria 2, Via M. Arcamone, 06034, Foligno, Perugia, Italy; University of Perugia, PhD School of Biotecnologies, Italy. Electronic address: walterbugiantella@alice.it.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bugiantella
mesh_terms: D018784:Abdominal Abscess / Q000209:etiology; D057868:Anastomotic Leak / Q000209:etiology; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D003082:Colectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D061646:Operative Time; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Laparoscopy; Meta-analysis; Right colectomy; Robot assisted; Robotic