Observational studySurgical endoscopy2018
Does robotic rectal cancer surgery improve the results of experienced laparoscopic surgeons? An observational single institution study comparing 168 robotic assisted with 184 laparoscopic rectal resections.
Observational study in Surgical endoscopy, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 33 citations in OpenAlex.
- Restorative resection in robot-assisted versus laparoscopic total mesorectal excision: systematic review and meta-analysis.The British journal of surgery · 2026Pooled it
- Robotic-Assisted Surgery for Rectal Cancer: An Expedited Summary of the Clinical Evidence.Ontario health technology assessment series · 2024Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Treatment outcomes of robot-assisted rectal cancer surgery with multivisceral resection of adjacent organs.Journal of robotic surgery · 2026Article
- Phase-specific impact of patient anatomy on rectal cancer surgery: robotic assistance neutralizes dissection difficulty.Journal of robotic surgery · 2026Article
- Mapping the knowledge landscape of robotic colorectal cancer surgery: a visualization study.Journal of robotic surgery · 2025Article
- Advancements and challenges in robotic surgery: A holistic examination of operational dynamics and future directions.Surgery in practice and science · 2025Review
- Modified oral antibiotics and mechanical bowel preparation (OAMBP) versus conventional OAMBP for sigmoid colon and rectal surgery: A multicenter randomized non-inferiority trial.Annals of gastroenterological surgery · 2024Article
- Implementation of a robotic surgical practice in inflammatory bowel disease.Journal of robotic surgery · 2024Article
- Implementation of totally robotic right hemicolectomy: lessons learned from a prospective cohort.Journal of robotic surgery · 2023Article
- Implementation of robotic rectal cancer surgery: a cross-sectional nationwide study.Surgical endoscopy · 2023Article
- Outcomes of robotic-assisted vs conventional laparoscopic surgery among patients undergoing resection for rectal cancer: an observational single hospital study of 300 cases.Journal of robotic surgery · 2022Observational
- Review
- Robotic Versus Laparoscopic Surgery for Rectal Cancer: A Comprehensive Review of Oncological Outcomes.The Permanente journal · 2021Review
- Robotic surgery for rectal cancer as a platform to build on: review of current evidence.Surgery today · 2021Review
- Short- and long-term outcomes of robotic surgery for rectal cancer: a single-center retrospective cohort study.Surgery today · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe role of robotic assistance in colorectal cancer surgery has not been established yet. We compared the results of robotic assisted with those of laparoscopic rectal resections done by two surgeons experienced in laparoscopic as well as in robotic rectal cancer surgery.
methodsTwo surgeons who were already experienced laparoscopic colorectal surgeons in 2005 started robotic surgery with the daVinci SI system in 2012. All their rectal cancer resections between 2005 and 2015 were retrieved from a prospectively recorded colorectal database of routinely collected patient data. Multi-organ resections were excluded. Patient data, diagnostic data, data on preceding operations and neoadjuvant treatment, perioperative and operative data, logistic data, and short-term outcomes were gathered. Multivariable analyses (multiple linear and logistic regression) were used to assess differences in several outcomes between the two resection methods while adjusting for all potential confounders we could identify. Results are presented as adjusted mean differences for continuous outcome variables or as adjusted odds ratios (OR) for dichotomous outcome variables.
resultsThree hundred and fifty-two patients with rectal cancers were identified: 168 robotic and 184 conventional laparoscopic cases, 178 operated by surgeon A and 174 operated by surgeon B. Adjusted mean operation time was 215 min in the robotic group which was 40 min (95% CI 24-56; p < 0.0005) longer than the 175 min in the laparoscopic group. Robotic treatment had significantly lesser numbers of conversions (OR 0.09 (0.03-0.32); p < 0.0005) and other complications (SSI and anastomic leakage excluded) (OR 0.32 (0.15-0.69); p = 0.004), adjusted for potential confounders.
conclusionsOur study suggests that robotic surgery in the hands of experienced laparoscopic rectal cancer surgeons improves the conversion rate and complication rate drastically compared to conventional laparoscopic surgery, but operation time is longer.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.