Radical resection of gallbladder cancer: could it be robotic?

Robotic, laparoscopic and open surgery for gallbladder cancer: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Minimally invasive oncological resections have become increasingly widespread in the surgical management of cancers. However, the role of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for gallbladder cancer (GBC) remains unclear. We aim to perform a systematic review and network meta-analysis of existing literature to evaluate the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic and robotic surgery in the management of GBC compared to open surgery (OS) by comparing outcomes.

METHODS

A literature search of the PubMed/MEDLINE (2000 to December 2021) and EMBASE (2000 to December 2021) databases was conducted. The primary outcome studied was overall survival, and secondary outcomes studied were postoperative morbidity, severe complications, incidence of bile leak, length of hospital stay, operation time, R0 resection rate, local recurrence and lymph node yield.

RESULTS

Thirty-two full-text articles met the eligibility criteria and were included in the final analysis with a total of 5883 patients undergoing either OS or MIS (laparoscopic or robotic) for GBC. 1- and 2-stage meta-analyses did not reveal any significant differences between OS, laparoscopic and robotic surgery in terms of overall survival, R0 resection, lymph node harvest, local recurrence and post-operative complications. Patients who underwent OS had significantly longer hospitalization stay and intra-operative blood loss compared to those who underwent laparoscopic or robotic surgery. Network meta-analysis did not reveal any significant differences between post-operative and survival outcomes of laparoscopic vs robotic surgery groups.

CONCLUSION

This network meta-analysis suggests that both laparoscopic and robotic surgery are safe and effective approaches in the surgical management of GBC, with post-operative and survival outcomes comparable to OS. An MIS approach may also lead to shorter hospitalization stay, less intraoperative blood loss and post-operative complications compared to OS. There was no obvious benefit of either MIS approach (laparoscopic versus robotic) over the other.

Innovations in surgery for gallbladder cancer: A review of robotic surgery as a feasible and safe option

BACKGROUND

This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of robotic-assisted surgical techniques in the treatment of gallbladder cancer, comparing it with traditional open and laparoscopic methods.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature searched for comparative analyses of patient outcomes following robotic, open, and laparoscopic surgeries, focusing on oncological results and perioperative benefits.

RESULTS

Five total studies published between 2019 and 2023 were identified. Findings indicate that robotic-assisted surgery for gallbladder cancer is as effective as traditional methods in terms of oncological outcomes, with potential advantages in precision and perioperative recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

Robotic surgery offers a viable and potentially advantageous alternative for gallbladder cancer treatment, warranting further research to confirm its benefits and establish comprehensive surgical guidelines.

Gallbladder cancer: surgical treatment, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy

Gallbladder cancer is a common type of biliary tract tumor. Optimal management for early stage cases typically involves radical excision as the primary treatment modality. Various surgical techniques, including laparoscopic, robotic, and navigational surgery, have demonstrated favorable clinical outcomes in radical gallbladder excision. Unfortunately, most patients are ineligible for surgical intervention because of the advanced stage of the disease upon diagnosis. Consequently, non-surgical interventions, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy, have become the mainstay of treatment for patients in advanced stages. This review focuses on elucidating various surgical techniques as well as advancements in immunotherapy and targeted therapy in the context of recent advancements in gallbladder cancer research.

Comparing robotic and open surgical techniques in gallbladder cancer management: a detailed systematic review and meta-analysis

This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the safety and oncological outcomes of robotic surgery compared to open surgery in treating gallbladder cancer (GBC). In October 2023, we performed a literature search across major global databases such as PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. We employed a Review Manager for parameter comparisons. This study has been registered with PROSPERO under the identifier CRD42023476686. Our final meta-analysis incorporated 5 cohort studies, encompassing a total of 353 patients. Compared to the Open Group (OG), the Robotic Group (RG) had reduced intraoperative blood loss (WMD - 217.72 ml, 95% CI - 371.08 to - 64.35; p = 0.005), shorter hospital stay (WMD - 1.80 days, 95% CI - 2.66 to - 0.95; p < 0.0001), and fewer overall complications (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.10-0.97; p = 0.04). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of operation duration, postoperative inpatient days, readmission rate, major complications, 1-year postoperative survival, 2-year postoperative survival, and mortality rates. In our study, we found that for patients with gallbladder cancer, robotic radical cholecystectomy offers certain potential advantages over open radical cholecystectomy. This suggests that robotic radical cholecystectomy might be the optimal choice for treating gallbladder cancer. However, further validation from high-quality randomized clinical trials is required.

Oncologic safety of robotic extended cholecystectomy for gallbladder cancer

BACKGROUND

Although laparoscopic cholecystectomy is applicable for the treatment of early gallbladder cancer (GBC), minimally invasive surgery is not widely used for advanced GBC. This is because advanced GBCs necessitate complicated surgical techniques, including lymph node dissection and liver resection. Robotic extended cholecystectomy (REC) is thought to overcome the limitations of laparoscopic surgery, but oncological safety studies are lacking. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the oncologic outcomes of REC compared with those of open extended cholecystectomy (OEC).

METHODS

A total of 125 patients, who underwent extended cholecystectomy for GBC with tentative T2 or higher stage between 2018 and 2021, were included and stratified by surgical methods. To minimize the confounding factors, 1:1 propensity-score matching was performed between the patients who underwent REC and those who underwent OEC.

RESULTS

Regarding short-term outcomes, the REC group showed significantly lower estimated blood loss (382.7 vs. 717.2 mL, P = 0.020) and shorter hospital stay (6.9 vs. 8.5 days, P = 0.042) than the OEC group. In addition, the REC group had significantly lower subjective pain scores than the OEC group from the day of surgery through the 5th postoperative day (P = 0.006). Regarding long-term outcomes, there were no significant differences in the 3-year [5-year] overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates between the REC group [OS, 92.3% (92.3%); DFS, 84.6% (72.5%)] and the OEC group [OS, 96.8% (96.8%); DFS, 78.2% (78.2%)] (P = 0.807 for OS and 0.991 for DFS).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, REC showed superior short-term outcomes to OEC and no difference in long-term survival outcomes. Additionally, REC was superior to OEC in terms of postoperative pain. Therefore, REC may be a feasible option with early recovery compared with OEC for patients with advanced GBC.

Robotic versus open extended cholecystectomy for T1a–T3 gallbladder cancer: A matched comparison

Background

The feasibility and safety of robotic extended cholecystectomy (REC) are still uncertain. This study was performed to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of REC with those of open extended cholecystectomy (OEC) for T1a–T3 gallbladder cancer.

Methods

From January 2015 to April 2022, 28 patients underwent REC in our center. To minimize any confounding factors, a 1:2 propensity score-matching analysis was conducted based on the patients’ demographics, liver function indicators, T stage, and symptoms. The data regarding demographics, perioperative outcomes, and long-term oncologic outcomes were reviewed.

Results

The visual analogue scale score was significantly lower in the REC than OEC group immediately postoperatively (3.68 ± 2.09 vs. 4.73 ± 1.85, P = 0.008), on postoperative day 1 (2.96 ± 1.75 vs. 3.69 ± 1.41, P = 0.023), and on postoperative day 2 (2.36 ± 1.55 vs. 2.92 ± 1.21, P = 0.031). In addition, the REC group exhibited a shorter time to first ambulation (P = 0.043), a shorter time to drainage tube removal (P = 0.038), and a shorter postoperative stay (P = 0.037), but hospital costs were significantly higher in the REC group (P &lt; 0.001). However, no statistically significant difference was found in the operation time (P = 0.134), intraoperative blood loss (P = 0.467), or incidence of postoperative morbidity (P = 0.227) or mortality (P = 0.289) between the REC and OEC groups. In regard to long-term outcomes, the 3-year disease-free survival rate was comparable between the OEC and REC groups (43.1% vs. 57.2%, P = 0.684), as was the 3-year overall survival rate (62.8% vs. 75.0%, P = 0.619).

Conclusion

REC can be an effective and safe alternative to OEC for selected patients with T1a–T3 gallbladder cancer with respect to short- and long-term outcomes.

Robot-assisted radical cholecystectomy for gallbladder cancer: A review

BACKGROUND

Radical cholecystectomy (RC) is recommended for Gallbladder cancer (GbC) patients with resectable T1b or higher stage. Traditionally, open RC is preferred over minimally invasive approach. Robotic surgery is increasingly gaining popularity and there are reports of robotic RC (RRC) for GbC. RRC is still new and mostly performed in high-volume centers with access to robotic technology.

AIM

This study aims to review the current literature on the safety and feasibility of RRC for GbC.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review of RRC for GbC using PubMed and Embase until December 2020. The primary endpoint was major complications, while the secondary endpoints were conversion to open, R0 resection, and early recurrence.

RESULTS

Seven studies with 74 patients were included in the study. Overall, four patients (5.41%) required open conversion. Five out of 74 patients (6.76%) experienced post-operative complications. There was no post-operative mortality. Among the patients with surgical margins reported (n = 63), 61 patients had negative margins (96.8%) and only two patients had positive margins. Two-year survival outcomes were reported as 60.5-100%.

RELEVANCE FOR PATIENTS

This is the first review that summarizes the current evidence on RRC for GbC. The endpoints suggest that RRC is feasible and safe in selected patients and when done in experienced centers. Understanding the strengths and limitations of RRC compared to other established therapeutic options may potentially aid surgeons in formulating the optimal treatment plan for GbC patients.

Treatment of Resectable Gallbladder Cancer

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the most common biliary tract cancer worldwide and its incidence has significant geographic variation. A unique combination of predisposing factors includes genetic predisposition, geographic distribution, female gender, chronic inflammation, and congenital developmental abnormalities. Today, incidental GBC is the most common presentation of resectable gallbladder cancer, and surgery (minimally invasive or open) remains the only curative treatment available. Encouragingly, there is an important emerging role for systemic treatment for patients who have R1 resection or present with stage III-IV. In this article, we describe the pathogenesis, surgical and systemic treatment, and prognosis.

Robotic Surgery for Biliary Tract Cancer

Biliary tract cancer consists of cholangiocarcinoma (CC) and gallbladder cancer (GBC). When resectable, surgery provides the best chance at long-term survival. Unfortunately, surgery for these tumors is associated with long operative times, high morbidities, and prolonged hospital stays. Minimally invasive surgery has been shown to impact selected outcomes, including length of stay, in other diseases, and robotic surgery may offer additional advantages compared to laparoscopic surgery in treating bile duct cancers. This is a systematic review of robotic surgery for biliary tract cancer. Predetermined selection criteria were used to appraise the literature. The PRISMA guidelines were followed. In total, 20 unique articles with a total of 259 patients with biliary tract cancer undergoing robotic surgery met the inclusion criteria. For CC and GBC, respectively, the weighted average operative time was 401 and 277 min, the estimated blood loss was 348 and 260 mL, the conversion rate to open was 7 and 3.5%, the all-cause morbidity was 52 and 9.7%, the major morbidity was 12 and 4.4%, the perioperative mortality was 1.4 and 0%, the length of stay was 15 and 4.8 days, the positive margin rate was 27 and 9%, and the number of lymph nodes retrieved was 4.2 and 8. Robotic surgery for biliary tract cancer appears non-inferior to open surgery when compared to the published contemporary data. However, the current literature on the topic is of low quality, and future prospective/randomized studies are needed.

Gallbladder cancer: Historical treatment and new management options

Gallbladder cancer is a rare, aggressive malignancy that has a poor overall prognosis. Effective treatment consists of early detection and surgical treatment. With the wide spread treatment of gallbladder disease with minimally invasive techniques, the rate of incidental gallbladder cancer has seen an equitable rise along with stage migration towards earlier disease. Although the treatment remains mostly surgical, newer modalities such as regional therapy as well as directed therapy based on molecular medicine has led to improved outcomes in patients with advanced disease. We aim to summarize the management of gallbladder cancer along with the newer developments in this formidable disease process.

Robotic Resection of Gallbladder Cancer: A Single-Center Retrospective Comparative Study to Open Resection

BACKGROUND

Minimally invasive surgery is gaining support for resection of gallbladder cancer (GBC). This study aims to compare operative and early outcomes of robotic resection (RR) to open resection (OR) from a single institution performing a high volume of robotic HPB surgery.

METHODS

Twenty patients with GBC underwent RR from January 2013 to August 2019. Outcomes were compared to a historical control of 23 patients with OR. Radical cholecystectomy for suspected GBC and completion operations for incidental GBC after routine cholecystectomy were both included.

RESULTS

Robotic resection had lower blood loss compared to OR (150 vs 350 mL, P = .002) and shorter postoperative length of stay (2.5 vs 6 days, P < .001), while median operative time was similar (193 vs 208 min, P = .604). There were no statistical differences in 30-day major complications or readmissions. No 30-day mortalities occurred. There was no statistical difference in survival trend (P = .438) or median lymph node harvest (5 vs 3, P = .189) for RR compared to OR.

CONCLUSION

Robotic resection of GBC is safe and efficient, with lower length of hospital stay and blood loss compared to OR. Technical benefits of robotic-assisted surgery may prove advantageous though larger studies are still needed.

Laparoscopic surgery for oncologic extended resection of T1b and T2 incidental gallbladder carcinoma at a high-volume center: a single-center experience in China

BACKGROUND

Surgical treatment is still the most effective treatment for gallbladder cancer. For the patients with stage T1b and above, the current guidelines recommend the extended radical operation, and oncologic extended resection can benefit the survival of the patients. The laparoscopic approach is still in the early phase, and its safety and oncological outcomes are not well known.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the technical feasibility and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for oncologic extended resection of early-stage incidental gallbladder carcinoma.

RESULTS

This study included 18 male and 32 female patients. Twenty patients underwent laparoscopic oncologic extended resection and 30 patients underwent open oncologic extended resection. All of the patients had R0 resection. A laparoscopic approach was associated with less intraoperative blood loss (242 ± 108.5 vs 401 ± 130.3; p < 0.01) and shorter duration of postoperative hospital stay (6.2 ± 2.4 vs 8.6 ± 2.3; p < 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference between two groups for lymph nodes yield (5.4 ± 3.5 vs 5.8 ± 2.1; p > 0.05), incidence of lymphatic metastasis (15% vs 16.67%; p > 0.05), residual disease (20% vs 23.3%; p > 0.05), and postoperative morbidity (15% vs 20%; p > 0.05). During follow-up time of median 20.95 (12-29.5) months, no significant difference was found between the two groups for early tumor recurrence (10% vs 13.33%; p > 0.05) and disease-free survival (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic surgery may offer similar intraoperative, perioperative, and short-term oncological outcomes as an open oncologic extended resection for incidental gallbladder carcinoma.

Current status and future perspectives of minimally invasive surgery in gallbladder carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is the most common biliary tract malignancy, which is characterized by easy local invasion, lymph nodes metastasis, local vascular invasion. Hence, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) can be performed in a limited number of patients. In our study, we reviewed the current studies on laparoscopic surgery (LS) and robotic surgery (RS) for GBC and analysed the limitations and difficulties of MIS for GBC.

METHODS

Multiple electronic databases were used for a systematic literature retrieval. All studies involving MIS of GBC were included (up to August 2019).

RESULTS

A total of 24 studies were included, of which 18 studies involved LS for GBC and six studies concerned RS of GBC. For LS, 16 studies contained relevant information of T stage, and 323 patients (98.8%) had T3 or lower stage; the average rate of R0 resection, conversion, postoperative complications and mortality was 95.3% (range 80.5-100%), 1.9% (range 0-16.7%), 13.4% (range 0-33.3%) and 1.0% (range 0-10%), respectively. For RS, four studies contained relevant information of T stage, and all patients were T3 or lower stage; the average rate of R0 resection, conversion and postoperative complications was 96.8% (range 81.8-100%), 5.5% (range 0-14.8%) and11.9% (range 0-36.4%), respectively. In addition, no patient had perioperative mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

MIS for GBC is limited to highly selected patients and is considered to be technically feasible in experienced surgeons. However, improvements in technical and instrumental are needed to reduce the associated postoperative complications and implantation metastasis, and to promote MIS in the treatment of GBC.

Robotic extended cholecystectomy in gallbladder cancer

BACKGROUND

The application of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in advanced gallbladder cancer (GBC) requiring extended cholecystectomy is challenging, in terms of achieving clinically safe and complete oncologic resection. Recently developed robotic systems, however, may provide advantages in overcoming difficulties faced by laparoscopic MIS. The purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility and advantages of a robotic system to assist with extended cholecystectomy.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with clinically suspected stage T2 or above, GBC (as determined by preoperative computed tomography or ultrasonography) underwent robotic extended cholecystectomy (REC) from February 2018 to January 2020. The attached video shows the detailed procedure in the following order: the positioning of the patient and the trocars, Kocher maneuver, lymph node dissection (#8, 9, 12, 13), skeletonization of hepatoduodenal ligament, ligation of the cystic duct and liver resection.

RESULTS

Of 16 patients who underwent REC, mean operation time was 198.3 min and the median estimated blood loss was 295 ml. 11 patients (68.8%) were pathologically diagnosed as stage T2 or above, and the metastatic lymph node was identified in 3 patients (18.8%). All cases had secured tumor-free resection margins, and 3 patients (18.8%) showed invasion to the hepatic parenchyma. The mean number of retrieved lymph nodes was 7.2. The median duration of hospital stay was 7 days. There were no mortality or recurrence within 90 days after the operation.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that robotic systems can be safely utilized in advanced stage GBC, facilitating oncologically sufficient lymph node dissection and rapid recovery.

Early outcomes of robotic extended cholecystectomy for the treatment of gallbladder cancer

BACKGROUND

Simple laparoscopic cholecystectomy is sufficient for patients with early gallbladder cancer (GBC). However, because advanced GBCs of T2 or more advanced stages require more complex procedures such as liver resection and lymph node dissection, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has not been popularized. To evaluate the applicability of MIS for GBC, we report the early outcomes of robotic extended cholecystectomies (RECs).

METHODS

Thirteen patients who radiologically suspected to have T2 or more advanced stages of GBC underwent REC from February 2018 to April 2019. Thirty-nine patients who underwent open extended cholecystectomy were selected by 1:3 propensity score matching, and the differences of clinicopathologic features according to surgical methods were analyzed.

RESULTS

Compared with open method, operation time, estimated blood loss, postoperative complication rate, and number of retrieved lymph nodes were not significantly different. In REC group, duration of hospital stay was shorter (6.6 vs 8.3 days, P = .002) and postoperative pain was significantly lower in the REC group (P = .024).

CONCLUSION

The early outcomes of REC were favorable with regard to early recovery and less pain, with similar number of retrieved lymph nodes. REC is a promising option for treatment of GBC, but further long-term survival studies are needed.

Robotic Biliary Surgery

Robotic cholecystectomy is safe and feasible approach and can be combined with common bile duct exploration to address complicated pathology in a single setting. This article summarizes reported outcomes after robotic biliary surgery. A technical overview of robotic multiport and single port cholecystectomy is provided. Last, the approach to benign bile duct disease during robotic cholecystectomy, including reconstruction of the biliary tree, is described.

Comparison of oncological outcomes after open and laparoscopic re-resection of incidental gallbladder cancer

BACKGROUND

The safety and oncological efficacy of laparoscopic re-resection of incidental gallbladder cancer have not been studied. This study aimed to compare laparoscopic with open re-resection of incidentally discovered gallbladder cancer while minimizing selection bias.

METHODS

This was a multicentre retrospective observational cohort study of patients with incidental gallbladder cancer who underwent re-resection with curative intent at four centres between 2000 and 2017. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were analysed by intention to treat. Inverse probability of surgery treatment weighting using propensity scoring was undertaken.

RESULTS

A total of 255 patients underwent re-resection (190 open, 65 laparoscopic). Nineteen laparoscopic procedures were converted to open operation. Surgery before 2011 was the only factor associated with conversion. Duration of hospital stay was shorter after laparoscopic re-resection (median 4 versus 6 days; P < 0·001). Three-year OS rates for laparoscopic and open re-resection were 87 and 62 per cent respectively (P = 0·502). Independent predictors of worse OS were residual cancer found at re-resection (hazard ratio (HR) 1·91, 95 per cent c.i. 1·17 to 3·11), blood loss of at least 500 ml (HR 1·83, 1·23 to 2·74) and at least four positive nodes (HR 3·11, 1·46 to 6·65). In competing-risks analysis, the RFS incidence was higher for laparoscopic re-resection (P = 0·038), but OS did not differ between groups. Independent predictors of worse RFS were one to three positive nodes (HR 2·16, 1·29 to 3·60), at least four positive nodes (HR 4·39, 1·96 to 9·82) and residual cancer (HR 2·42, 1·46 to 4·00).

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic re-resection for selected patients with incidental gallbladder cancer is oncologically non-inferior to an open approach. Dissemination of advanced laparoscopic skills and timely referral of patients with incidental gallbladder cancer to specialized centres may allow more patients to benefit from this operation.

Outcome of Robot-Assisted Radical Cholecystectomy in a High-Volume Tertiary Cancer Center in India

Introduction: Minimally invasive radical cholecystectomy is a complex laparoscopy. Robotic surgery is now an option to complete a radical cholecystectomy because of its high definition, magnified three-dimensional view of the operative field, and articulating instrumentation.^1–3 Robotic surgery enables a safe dissection in otherwise difficult to access areas such as the porta hepatis. This video reviews the role of robotic surgery in the management of gall bladder (GB) malignancy.

Methods: A 28-year-old lady, with no comorbidities, presented with abdominal pain and underwent an evaluation with a contrast-enhanced CT scan of chest and abdomen. The CT scan revealed a mass in the GB with no evidence of distant metastases. Liver function tests were normal and a CA19-9 was 898 U/mL. A robotic radical cholecystectomy using five ports (four robotic and one assistant port) was performed. The procedure started by clearing the hepatoduodenal ligament nodes (stations 8, 12, and 13 with interaortocaval node sampling). The triangle of Calot was then dissected and secured with clips. Next a wide excision of segments 4b and 5 was performed including the GB. The complete specimen was extracted in a bag from a small incision at the assistant port.

Results: The procedure was performed in 330 minutes with a blood loss of 200 mL. There were no perioperative complications and the postoperative stay was 3 days. Final histopathology report revealed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of GB invading serosa (pT3) with negative margins and 4 out of 14 lymph nodes showed presence of metastases. The overall cohort shows 22 robotic radical cholecystectomies for GB malignancy. The median age was 53 years. The average duration of surgery was 270 minutes with a median blood loss of 120 mL. The median postoperative stay was 4 days and the median nodal yield for radical cholecystectomy was 8. The overall median survival at 18 months was 100% with one recurrent hepatic lesion.

Discussion: Robotic radical cholecystectomy may offer technical superiority over laparoscopic surgery and is an oncologically acceptable approach with good short-term oncologic outcomes. This type of surgery may require a highly specialized center with adequate experience in hepatopancreatobiliary surgery.

No competing financial interests exist.

Runtime of video: 9 mins 5 secs

Minimally Invasive Single-Site Cholecystectomy in Obese Patients: Laparoscopic vs. Robotic

Robotic single-site cholecystectomy (RSSC) has emerged as an alternative procedure to overcome the shortcomings of single-fulcrum laparoscopic cholecystectomy in terms of the ergonomics and reducing the physical and mental stress of the surgeon. It is also necessary to assess the safety of RSSC for obese patients in a world with an increasing population of obese people. RSSC took a longer operation time, but the actual dissection time was similar to that of single-fulcrum laparoscopic cholecystectomy. There was no difference in postoperative pain, except for during the immediate postoperative period, and in the length of the hospital stay. RSSC had the advantage of reducing the incidence of intraoperative iatrogenic gallbladder perforation. It is critical to prevent any intraoperative bile leakage, which is associated as a worse prognostic factor in those patients with gallbladder cancer. Additional studies with a prospective design and larger number of study subjects will be required to confirm the safety and feasibility of RSSC. Moreover, the cost benefit and safety for treating malignant lesions are also issues to be addressed. RSSC is expected to be further expanded as an operative mode in the future.

Robotic surgery for gallbladder cancer: Operative technique and early outcomes

BACKGROUND

The objective was to elucidate the operative technique of robotic radical cholecystectomy (RRC) and to compare the early outcomes of RRC with open radical cholecystectomy (ORC) for gallbladder cancer (GBC).

METHODS

Patients who underwent RRC for suspected or incidental GBC between July 2015 and August 2018 were analyzed. Patients who underwent ORC during the same period and fulfilled the study criteria formed the control group.

RESULTS

During the study period, 27 patients who underwent RRC formed the study group (group A) and 70 matched patients who underwent ORC formed the control group (group B). Median surgical time was higher in group A (295 vs 200 minutes, P < 0.001). However, median blood loss (200 vs 600 mL, P < 0.001), postoperative hospital stay (4 vs 5 days, P = 0.046) and postoperative morbidity (1 vs 15 patients, P = 0.035) were lower in group A. Median lymph node yield was 10 (range = 2-21) for group A and 9 (range = 2-25) for group B, and was comparable (P = 0.408). During a median follow up of 9 (1-46) months, two patients in group A developed recurrence (no port site recurrence).

CONCLUSION

RRC is safe and feasible and the short-term results are compared with ORC.

Long-Term Oncologic Outcomes Following Robotic Liver Resections for Primary Hepatobiliary Malignancies: A Multicenter Study

OBJECTIVE

Robotic liver surgery (RLS) has emerged as a feasible alternative to laparoscopic or open resections with comparable perioperative outcomes. Little is known about the oncologic adequacy of RLS. The purpose of this study was to investigate the long-term oncologic outcomes for patients undergoing RLS for primary hepatobiliary malignancies.

METHODS

We performed an international, multicenter, retrospective study of patients who underwent RLS for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cholangiocarcinoma (CC), or gallbladder cancer (GBC) between 2006 and 2016. Age, gender, histology, resection margin status, extent of surgical resection, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were retrospectively collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

Of the 61 included patients, 34 (56%) had RLS performed for HCC, 16 (26%) for CC, and 11 (18%) for GBC. The majority of resections were nonanatomical or segmental resections (39.3%), followed by central hepatectomy (18%), left-lateral sectionectomy (14.8%), left hepatectomy (13.1%), right hepatectomy (13.1%), and right posterior segmentectomy (1.6%). R0 resection was achieved in 94% of HCC, 68% of CC, and 81.8% of GBC patients. Median hospital stay was 5 days, and conversion to open surgery was needed in seven patients (11.5%). Grade III-IV Dindo-Clavien complications occurred in seven patients with no perioperative mortality. Median follow-up was 75 months (95% confidence interval 36-113), and 5-year OS and DFS were 56 and 38%, respectively. When stratified by tumor type, 3-year OS was 90% for HCC, 65% for GBC, and 49% for CC (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

RLS can be performed for primary hepatobiliary malignancies with long-term oncologic outcomes comparable to published open and laparoscopic data.

Safety of single-incision robotic cholecystectomy for benign gallbladder disease: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Multiport laparoscopic cholecystectomy (MLC) is the gold standard technique for cholecystectomy. In order to reduce postoperative pain and improve cosmetic results, the application of the single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) technique was introduced, leading surgeons to face important challenges. Robotic technology has been proposed to overcome some of these limitations. The purpose of this review is to assess the safety of single-incision robotic cholecystectomy (SIRC) for benign disease.

METHODS

An Embase and Pubmed literature search was performed in February 2017. Randomized controlled trial and prospective observational studies were selected and assessed using PRISMA recommendations. Primary outcome was overall postoperative complication rate. Secondary outcomes were postoperative bile leak rate, total conversion rate, operative time, wound complication rate, postoperative hospital stay, and port site hernia rate. The outcomes were analyzed in Forest plots based on fixed and random effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic.

RESULTS

A total of 13 studies provided data about 1010 patients who underwent to SIRC for benign disease of gallbladder. Overall postoperative complications rate was 11.6% but only 4/1010 (0.4%) patients required further surgery. A postoperative bile leak was reported in 3/950 patients (0.3%). Conversion occurred in 4.2% of patients. Mean operative time was 86.7 min including an average of 42 min should be added as for robotic console time. Wound complications occurred in 3.7% of patients. Median postoperative hospital stay was 1 day. Port site hernia at the latest follow-up available was reported in 5.2% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of the Da Vinci robot in single-port cholecystectomy seems to have similar results in terms of incidence and grade of complications compared to standard laparoscopy. In addition, it seems affected by the same limitations of single-port surgery, consisting of an increased operative time and incidence of port site hernia.

Short-term outcomes of minimally invasive surgery for patients presenting with suspected gallbladder cancer: Report of 8 cases

Introduction:

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for gallbladder cancer (GBCa) has traditionally been discouraged, with limited studies reporting on its outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term outcomes of MIS for patients with GBCa or suspected GBCa.

Methods:

A retrospective study of 8 consecutive patients who underwent MIS for GBCa by a single surgeon over a 22-month period between 2015 and 2017.

Results:

Three patients underwent robotic surgery, while five underwent conventional laparoscopic surgery. Four patients presented with histologically proven GbCa detected incidentally after cholecystectomy. All 4 patients underwent resection of Segment 4b/5. Of these, 3 underwent hilar lymphadenectomy and 1 underwent hilar lymph node sampling. Four patients presenting with suspected GBCa underwent upfront extended cholecystectomy. Two patients who had malignancy on frozen section underwent hilar lymphadenectomy. The median operation time was 242.5 (range, 165–530) min, and the median blood loss was 175 (range, 50–700) ml. The median post-operative hospital stay was 3.5 (range, 2–8) days. There were no open conversion, post-operative morbidities and mortalities. Six had histologically proven GBCa. Five were T3 and one had T2 cancers.

Conclusions:

The results of the present study confirm the short-term safety and feasibility of MIS for patients with GBCa, as all eight patients underwent successful MIS with no major morbidity or mortality. Further studies with larger patient cohorts with long-term follow-up are needed to determine the oncologic outcomes and the definitive role of MIS in treating GBCa.

Current Role of Minimally Invasive Radical Cholecystectomy for Gallbladder Cancer

Background. For Tis and T1a gallbladder cancer (GbC), laparoscopic cholecystectomy can provide similar survival outcomes compared to open cholecystectomy. However, for patients affected by resectable T1b or more advanced GbC, open approach radical cholecystectomy (RC), consisting in gallbladder liver bed resection or segment 4b-5 bisegmentectomy, with locoregional lymphadenectomy, is considered the gold standard while minimally invasive RC (MiRC) is skeptically considered. Aim. To analyze current literature on perioperative and oncologic outcomes of MiRC for patients affected by GbC. Methods. A Medline review of published articles until June 2016 concerning MiRC for GbC was performed. Results. Data relevant for this review were presented in 13 articles, including 152 patients undergoing an attempt of MiRC for GbC. No randomized clinical trial was found. The approach was laparoscopic in 147 patients and robotic in five. Conversion was required in 15 (10%) patients. Postoperative complications rate was 10% with no mortality. Long-term survival outcomes were reported by 11 studies, two of them showing similar oncologic results when comparing MiRC with matched open RC. Conclusions. Although randomized clinical trials are still lacking and only descriptive studies reporting on limited number of patients are available, current literature seems suggesting that when performed at highly specialized centers, MiRC for GbC is safe and feasible and has oncologic outcomes comparable to open RC.

Technical Aspects of Gallbladder Cancer Surgery

In this review, the authors present an updated description of gallbladder cancer in 2 sections based on presentation: disease that presents incidentally following laparoscopic cholecystectomy and malignancy that is suspected preoperatively. Elements pertaining to technical aspects of surgical resection provide the critical focus of this review and are discussed in the context of evidence-based literature on gallbladder cancer today.

Outcomes in biliary malignancy

The biliary malignancies that are reviewed here are gallbladder cancer (GBC), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHC), and perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC). The focus is on outcomes after potentially curative resection of biliary malignancies. Key outcomes are postoperative mortality, median and 5-year overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival, and recurrence patterns. Poor prognostic factors for recurrence and survival as well as prognostic models are also discussed. The incidence of biliary malignancies in the United States is about 5 in 100,000. Postoperative mortality for resection of GBC and IHC is similar to that of liver resections for other indications. However, 90 day postoperative mortality after liver resection for PHC is about 10%. For GBC, median OS depends strongly on the T-stage and ranges from 8 months (pT3) to 79 months (pT1b). Median OS after resection for IHC is about 30 months, and for PHC about 38 months. The majority of patients with biliary malignancies develop a recurrence after resection. Patients with GBC recur early with a median time to recurrence of 12 months, versus about 20 months for IHC and PHC. In patients with resected IHC or PHC locoregional recurrence was the only site of recurrence in about 60% of patients, versus 15% in patients with GBC. Poor prognostic factors after resection of all biliary malignancies include the presence of lymph node metastasis, a positive surgical resection margin, and moderate or poor tumor differentiation. Several prognostic nomograms have been developed to predict long-term outcomes of biliary cancer resection.

Preliminary experience of the robot-assisted laparoscopic excision of a retroperitoneal mass: A case report

The aim of the present study was to report the initial clinical experience of adopting the da Vinci Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA) to perform a retroperitoneal tumor resection. The patient was a 56-year-old female who presented with a five-year history of hypertension. Abdominal dynamic computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography-CT scans revealed a mass measuring ~6 cm in diameter that was located anterior to the abdominal aorta, and between the abdominal aorta and the inferior vena cava (at the level of the third lumbar vertebra). The tumor was excised via a five-port, robot-assisted, transperitoneal laparoscopic approach. Careful dissection of the tumor away from the abdominal aorta and the inferior vena cava was accomplished without resulting in major vascular injury. There were no complications and the patient was discharged in a good condition on the eleventh postoperative day. Pathological analysis of a tumor specimen demonstrated a benign pheochromocytoma (PHEO). During the three-month follow-up, no recurrence was identified through CT scans or measurement of the patient’s endocrine hormone levels. Thus, the da Vinci robot-assisted laparoscopic system may be safely employed in the treatment of extra-adrenal PHEOs that occur in difficult locations for which a laparoscopic surgical excision may be challenging.

Laparoscopic approach to gastrointestinal malignancies: Toward the future with caution

After the rapid acceptance of laparoscopy to manage multiple benign diseases arising from gastrointestinal districts, some surgeons started to treat malignancies by the same way. However, if the limits of laparoscopy for benign diseases are mainly represented by technical issues, oncologic outcomes remain the foundation of any procedures to cure malignancies. Cancerous patients represent an important group with peculiar aspects including reduced survival expectancy, worsened quality of life due to surgery itself and adjuvant therapies, and challenging psychological impact. All these issues could, potentially, receive a better management with a laparoscopic surgical approach. In order to confirm such aspects, similarly to testing the newest weapons (surgical or pharmacologic) against cancer, long-term follow-up is always recommendable to assess the real benefits in terms of overall survival, cancer-free survival and quality of life. Furthermore, it seems of crucial importance that surgeons will be correctly trained in specific oncologic principles of surgical oncology as well as in modern miniinvasive technologies. Therefore, laparoscopic treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies requires more caution and deep analysis of published evidences, as compared to those achieved for inflammatory bowel diseases, gastroesophageal reflux disease or diverticular disease. This review tries to examine the evidence available to date for the use of laparoscopy and robotics in malignancies arising from the gastrointestinal district.