title: Robotic liver surgery: technical aspects and review of the literature.
abstract: Minimally invasive surgery for liver resections has a defined role and represents an accepted alternative to open techniques for selected cases. Robotic technology can overcome some of the disadvantages of the laparoscopic technique, mainly in the most complex cases. Precise dissection and microsuturing is possible, even in narrow operative fields, allowing for a better dissection of the hepatic hilum, fine lymphadenectomy, and biliary reconstruction even with small bile ducts and easier bleeding control. This technique has the potential to allow for a greater number of major resections and difficult segmentectomies to be performed in a minimally invasive fashion. The implementation of near-infrared fluorescence with indocyanine green (ICG) also allows for a more accurate recognition of vascular and biliary anatomy. The perspectives of this kind of virtually implemented imaging are very promising and may be reflected in better outcomes. The overall data present in current literature suggests that robotic liver resections are at least comparable to both open and laparoscopic surgery in terms of perioperative and postoperative outcomes. This article provides technical details of robotic liver resections and a review of the current literature.
authors: Division of General, Minimally Invasive, and Robotic Surgery, University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors: Pier Cristoforo
authors: PC
authors: Giulianotti
authors: Division of General, Minimally Invasive, and Robotic Surgery, University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors: Francesco Maria
authors: FM
authors: Bianco
authors: Division of General, Minimally Invasive, and Robotic Surgery, University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors: Despoina
authors: D
authors: Daskalaki
authors: Division of General, Minimally Invasive, and Robotic Surgery, University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors: Luis Fernando
authors: LF
authors: Gonzalez-Ciccarelli
authors: Division of General, Minimally Invasive, and Robotic Surgery, University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors: Jihun
authors: J
authors: Kim
authors: Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors: Enrico
authors: E
authors: Benedetti
keywords: Robotic liver resection; minimally invasive surgery; robotic hepatectomy