title: Open vs robotic radical gastrectomy for locally advanced gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aims to evaluate the immediate outcomes of robotic and open gastrectomy for patients with locally advanced gastric adenocarcinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was performed on patients undergoing curative intent gastrectomies between 2004 and 2013 in our department. Operative and postoperative outcomes as well as long-term survival data were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two groups of patients were analysed: the robotic group (n = 18) and the open surgery group (n = 29). Operating time in the robotic group (320.833 ± 85.186 min) was significantly longer (p = 0.0004) as compared with the open group (243.366 ± 57.973 min). The number of retrieved lymph nodes was not statistically different between the two groups (p = 0.108) and neither was the rate of postoperative complications (p = 0.294).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Robotic gastrectomy is a safe procedure, with satisfactory short- and long-term outcomes in locally advanced gastric cancer. Studies on a larger number of patients are necessary in order to confirm whether an immediate benefit in survival exists due to robotic surgery. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: 'Carol Davila' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Procopiuc
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery and Liver Transplatation, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tudor
authors.affiliation: 'Carol Davila' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.|Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manuc
authors.affiliation: 'Carol Davila' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.|Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diculescu
authors.affiliation: 'Carol Davila' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.|Department of General Surgery and Liver Transplatation, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vasilescu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: gastric cancer; laparoscopic gastrectomy; minimally invasive surgery; robot-assisted gastrectomy; robotic gastrectomy; robotic surgery