title: Adoption of Robotic Technology for Treating Colorectal Cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Debate exists regarding the role of robotic-assisted surgery in colorectal cancer. Robotic-assisted surgery has been promoted as a strategy to increase the availability of minimally invasive surgery, which is associated with improved short-term morbidity; however, robotic-assisted surgery is much more expensive than laparoscopic surgery.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to understand hospital and patient trends in the adoption of robotic-assisted surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study used cross-sectional and longitudinal designs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 2010 and 2012 American Hospital Association surveys, as well as the 2010-2012 Nationwide Inpatient Sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  US hospitals responding to the American Hospital Association survey were included to measure patients with colorectal cancer who were undergoing elective minimally invasive surgery or open resection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Robotic-assisted surgery adoption by US hospitals was measured, regarding specifically patients with colorectal cancer who were treated with robotic surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2010, 20.1% of hospitals adopted robotic-assisted surgery, increasing to 27.4% by 2012. Hospitals more likely to adopt robotic-assisted surgery included teaching hospitals, those with more advanced imaging services, those in metropolitan rather than rural areas, and those performing the highest inpatient surgery volume. Robotic-assisted surgery only accounted for 1.3% of colorectal cancer operations during 2010-2012, but patient probability of robotic-assisted surgery ranged from 0.1% to 15.2%. The percentage of patients with colorectal cancer who were treated robotically among those undergoing minimally invasive surgery increased over time (2010, 1.5%; 2012, 3.6%). Robotic-assisted surgery is increasing more rapidly for patients with rectal cancer with minimally invasive surgery (2010, 5.5%; 2012, 13.3%) versus patients with colon cancer treated with minimally invasive surgery (2010, 1.3%; 2012, 3.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study was limited by its observational study design.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Robotic-assisted surgery uptake remains low for colon cancer but higher for rectal cancer surgery, suggesting a more thoughtful adoption of robotic-assisted surgery for colorectal cancer by focusing its use on more technically challenging cases.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Epidemiology, College for Public Health and Social Justice, St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri 2 Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 3 Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 4 Department of Health Management and Policy, College for Public Health and Social Justice, St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri 5 Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schootman
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hendren
authors.forename: Kendra
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ratnapradipa
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stringer
authors.forename: Nick O
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Davidson
mesh_terms: D003082:Colectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology