title: Robot-assisted versus laparoscopic-assisted surgery for colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis.
abstract: Robotic surgery is positioned at the cutting edge of minimally invasive management of colorectal cancer. We performed a meta-analysis of data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs (NRCTs) that compared the clinicopathological outcomes of robotic-assisted colorectal surgery (RACS) with those of laparoscopic-assisted colorectal surgery (LACS). Inferences on the feasibility and the relative safety and efficacy have been drawn.
  
  
  
  A literature search for relevant studies was performed on MEDLINE, Ovid, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases. Inter-group differences in the standardized mean differences and relative risk were assessed. Operation times, conversion rates to open surgery, estimated blood loss (EBL), early postoperative morbidity, and length of hospital stay (LHS) were compared. Oncologic outcomes assessed were number of lymph nodes harvested and lengths of proximal and distal resection margins.
  
  
  
  Twenty-four studies (2 RCTs and 22 NRCTs [5 prospective plus 17 retrospective]) with a total of 3318 patients were included. Of these, 1466 (44.18 %) patients underwent RACS and 1852 (55.82 %) underwent LACS. Conversion rates, EBL and LHS were significantly lower, while the operation times and total costs were similar between RACS and LACS. Complication rates and oncological accuracy of resection showed no significant difference.
  
  
  
  Based on this meta-analysis, RACS appears to be a promising surgical approach with its safety and efficacy comparable to that of LACS in patients undergoing colorectal surgery. Further studies are required to evaluate the long-term cost-efficiency as well as the functional and oncologic outcomes of RACS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 1, Youyi Road, Yuanjiagang, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 1, Youyi Road, Yuanjiagang, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, People's Republic of China. 384535713@qq.com.
authors.forename: ZhengQiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: MengJun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bie
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 1, Youyi Road, Yuanjiagang, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: XuDong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 1, Youyi Road, Yuanjiagang, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D061887:Conversion to Open Surgery; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D061646:Operative Time; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures
keywords: Colorectal cancer; Colorectal surgery; Laparoscopic surgery; Meta-analysis; Robotic surgery