title: Robot-assisted laparoscopic (RAL) procedures in general surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Robotics was introduced in clinical practice more than two decades ago, and it has gained remarkable popularity for a wide variety of laparoscopic procedures. We report our results of robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RALS) in the most commonly applied general surgical procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety seven patients underwent RALS from 2009 to 2012. Indications for RALS were cholelithiasis, gastric carcinoma, splenic tumors, colorectal carcinoma, benign colorectal diseases, non-toxic nodular goiter and incisional hernia. Records of patients were analyzed for demographic features, intraoperative and postoperative complications and conversion to open surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty six female and 51 male patients were operated and mean age was 58,4 (range: 25-88). Ninety three out of 97 procedures (96%) were completed robotically, 4 were converted to open surgery and there were 15 postoperative complications. There was no mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Wide variety of procedures of general surgery can be managed safely and effectively by RALS. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Istanbul Medeniyet University, School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Alimoglu
authors.affiliation: Istanbul Medeniyet University, School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Julide
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sagiroglu
authors.affiliation: Umraniye Research and Training Hospital, Department of Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Atak
authors.affiliation: Umraniye Research and Training Hospital, Department of Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kilic
authors.affiliation: Istanbul Medeniyet University, School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tunc
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eren
authors.affiliation: Umraniye Research and Training Hospital, Department of Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mujgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caliskan
authors.affiliation: Umraniye Research and Training Hospital, Department of Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gurhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013965:Thyroidectomy
keywords: general surgery; minimally invasive surgery; robotics