Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41692915›Full record

ArticleJournal of robotic surgery2026

Age disparity in robotic colorectal surgery: overcoming surgeon hesitancy to improve elderly patient outcomes.

Tommaso Violante, Davide Ferrari, Matteo Rottoli, Richard Sassun, Marco Novelli, David W Larson, Eric J Dozois, Kellie L Mathis, William R Perry

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of robotic surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Tommaso Violante *Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. Southwest, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
Davide Ferrari *Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. Southwest, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
Matteo RottoliOrsi Academy, Melle, Belgium.
Richard SassunDivision of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. Southwest, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
Marco NovelliDivision of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. Southwest, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
David W LarsonDivision of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. Southwest, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
Eric J DozoisDivision of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. Southwest, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
Kellie L MathisDivision of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. Southwest, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
William R PerryDivision of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. Southwest, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA. Perry.William@mayo.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRobotic colorectal surgery offers significant benefits for vulnerable elderly patients, but its adoption in this demographic appears limited. We hypothesized that a significant age-related disparity exists in robotic surgery utilization. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between age and the use of robotic surgery, along with its associated postoperative outcomes in elderly patients.

methodsThis retrospective cohort study utilized the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2012 to 2021. We analyzed 80,187 patients aged 65 years or older undergoing elective colectomy or proctectomy. The primary endpoint was the utilization of the robotic surgical approach. Key secondary endpoints included in-hospital mortality, medical and surgical complications, and length of hospital stay.

resultsOlder age was independently associated with a decreased likelihood of undergoing robotic surgery (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97–0.98; p < 0.001). Compared to open and laparoscopic approaches, robotic surgery was associated with significantly lower odds of in-hospital mortality (OR 0.709, 95% CI 0.578–0.870; p = 0.001), medical complications (OR 0.790, 95% CI 0.723–0.863; p < 0.001), and surgical complications (OR 0.713, 95% CI 0.669–0.759; p < 0.001). The robotic approach was also associated with a shorter length of hospital stay (OR 0.819, 95% CI 0.804–0.834; p < 0.001).

conclusionA significant age-related disparity exists in the use of robotic colorectal surgery. Elderly patients are less likely to undergo this procedure despite its association with improved postoperative outcomes. Overcoming surgeon hesitancy and systemic barriers is necessary to ensure older adults have equitable access to the benefits of advanced surgical technologies.

Indexed as

ColectomyHealthcare DisparitiesRobotic Surgical ProceduresSurgeonsAgedAged, 80 and overAge FactorsColorectal Surgical ProceduresFemaleHospital MortalityHumansLength of StayMalePostoperative ComplicationsProctectomyRetrospective StudiesAge disparityColorectal surgeryElderly patientsMinimally invasive surgeryRobotic surgerySurgical outcomes

Identifiers

PMID41692915

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Registered trials

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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.