title: Robotic-assisted surgery versus open surgery in the treatment of rectal cancer: the current evidence.
abstract: The aim of this meta-analysis was to comprehensively compare the safety and efficacy of robotic-assisted rectal cancer surgery (RRCS) and open rectal cancer surgery (ORCS). Electronic database (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Knowledge, and the Cochrane Library) searches were conducted for all relevant studies that compared the short-term and long-term outcomes between RRCS and ORCS. Odds ratios (ORs), mean differences, and hazard ratios were calculated. Seven studies involving 1074 patients with rectal cancer were identified for this meta-analysis. Compared with ORCS, RRCS is associated with a lower estimated blood loss (mean difference [MD]: -139.98, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -159.11 to -120.86; P < 0.00001), shorter hospital stay length (MD: -2.10, 95% CI: -3.47 to -0.73; P = 0.003), lower intraoperative transfusion requirements (OR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.28 to 0.99, P = 0.05), shorter time to flatus passage (MD: -0.97, 95% CI = -1.06 to -0.88, P < 0.00001), and shorter time to resume a normal diet (MD: -1.71.95% CI = -3.31 to -0.12, P = 0.04). There were no significant differences in surgery-related complications, oncologic clearance, disease-free survival, and overall survival between the two groups. However, RRCS was associated with a longer operative time. RRCS is safe and effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Second Clinical Medicine College of Jinan University, China.
authors.forename: Guixiang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Yan-Bing
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Zhihong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Second Clinical Medicine College of Jinan University, China.
authors.forename: Xianming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Haijun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemoradiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000401:mortality / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016017:Odds Ratio; D061646:Operative Time; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000401:mortality / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome