A Meta-Analysis of Robotic Surgery in Endometrial Cancer: Comparison with Laparoscopy and Laparotomy

An eight-year analysis of robotic surgery in morbidly obese women with endometrial cancer in a tertiary center in Singapore

Introduction

Surgical management of endometrial cancer is a total hysterectomy, bilateral salphingo-oophorectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection (THBSO-PLND), which is a challenging surgery in the morbidly obese. Data on morbidly obese women undergoing robotic surgery is limited in Asia. We share our experience in Singapore and aim to demonstrate that robotic surgery is safe and effective in morbidly obese women with endometrial cancer.

Materials and Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with BMI > 40 kg/m2, who underwent robotic surgery from January 2016 to September 2023 at the Singapore General Hospital. We recruited a total of 33 patients who underwent robotic surgery for endometrial malignancy and analysed surgical outcomes, operative complications, and survival rates.

Results

The average age of patients was 53 years and mean BMI 45.7. The average operative time was 232 min and average blood loss 184 ml. 3 patients had THBSO while 27 underwent THBSO-PLND. None required conversion to laparotomy. 4 patients required a mini-laparotomy for the retrieval of bulky uterus. 12 required adhesiolysis. 6 patients had additional omentectomy done. The average inpatient stay was 4.8 days. The 1-year mortality rate is 0. However, 1 patient passed away 13 months after surgery due to complications from bowel obstruction and another passed away 39 months later due to disease recurrence. 1 patient readmitted on POD6 due to post-op ileus and another for port-site hematoma. Both were managed conservatively.

Conclusion

Robotic surgery is a safe and effective alternative surgical tool for women who are morbidly obese with endometrial cancer.

Oncological outcomes after laparotomic, laparoscopic, and robot-assisted laparoscopic staging for early-stage high-intermediate or high-risk endometrial cancer

OBJECTIVES

To compare oncological outcomes in patients with early-stage high-intermediate or high-risk endometrial cancer undergoing surgical staging by laparotomy, conventional laparoscopy, or robot-assisted laparoscopy.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed between 2015 and 2021 with stage I-II (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2009), high-intermediate or high-risk endometrial cancer who underwent staging surgery, were identified in the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Five-year disease-free survival and overall survival were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and differences between groups were evaluated using log-rank testing. Additionally, survival analyses were stratified by histological subtype. The effect of surgical modality on risk of recurrence and all-cause death was assessed by performing Cox regression analysis with inverse probability treatment weighting.

RESULTS

In total 941 patients met the inclusion criteria, of whom 399 (42.4%) underwent staging surgery by laparotomy, 273 (29.0%) by laparoscopy, and 269 (28.6%) by robot-assisted laparoscopy. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the three groups. No difference in disease-free survival (75.0% vs 71.2% vs 79.0% p=0.35) or overall survival (72.7% vs 72.3% vs 71.2% p=0.98) was observed between patients after laparotomy, laparoscopy, or robot-assisted laparoscopy, respectively. Subanalyses based on histological subtype showed comparable disease-free survival and overall survival between surgical approaches. After correcting for possible confounders by means of inverse probability treatment weighting, there was no significantly increased risk of recurrence or risk of all-cause death after laparoscopy or robot-assisted laparoscopy.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic and robot-assisted laparoscopic staging surgery in women with early-stage high-intermediate or high-risk endometrial cancer are safe alternatives to laparotomic staging surgery.

Robot Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery in Gynaecology: An Evolving Assistive Technology

Laparoscopic surgery is extensively utilized to treat a range of gynaecological conditions and pathologies. The advantages of laparoscopic surgery include the minimalization of blood loss and scarring, improved recovery times, and shorter hospital admissions. However, robotic technologies have had an increasing presence within gynaecological laparoscopic surgery in recent decades. This literature review therefore aims to discuss laparoscopy from 3 perspectives. First, the evolution of laparoscopy is reviewed with a focus on its origins, its transition from a diagnostic to an operative tool, and its role in present-day gynaecology. Second, interventions for benign gynaecological conditions (including excision of benign ovarian tumours, total laparoscopic hysterectomy, and laparoscopic myomectomy) are reviewed. The laparoscopic management of malignant gynaecology (including ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, and cervical cancer) is also discussed. Finally, whilst robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery is experiencing rapid technological advancement, it is pertinent to consider the extent of its benefits when compared to open or conventional laparoscopic approaches in gynaecological surgery.

Enhancing surgical performance: the role of robotic surgery in myomectomies, a systematic review and metanalysis

Examine the role, benefits, and limitations of robotic surgery in myomectomies compared to laparoscopic and open surgical approaches. This review sourced data from CENTRAL, Pubmed, Medline, and Embase up until May 1, 2023. Full articles comparing clinical outcomes of robotic myomectomy with open or laparoscopic procedures were included without language restriction. Initially, 2150 records were found. 24 studies were finally included for both qualitative and quantitative analyses. Two investigators independently assessed all reports following PRISMA guidelines. Meta-analysis was conducted using the software "Review Manager Version 5.4". Risk-of-bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Sensitivity analysis was conducted, when feasible. In a comparison between robotic and laparoscopic myomectomies, no significant difference was observed in fibroid weights and the size of the largest fibroid. Robotic myomectomy resulted in less blood loss, but transfusion rates were comparable. Both methods had similar complication rates and operative times, although some robotic studies showed longer durations. Conversion rates favored robotics. Hospital stays varied widely, with no overall significant difference, and pregnancy rates were similar between the two methods. When comparing robotic to open myomectomies, open procedures treated heavier and larger fibroids. They also had greater blood loss, but the robotic approach required fewer transfusions. The complication rate was slightly higher in open procedures. Open surgeries were generally faster, postoperative pain scores were similar, but hospital stays were longer for open procedures. Pregnancy rates were comparable for both robotic and open methods. Robotic surgery offers advancement in myomectomy procedures by offering enhanced exposure and dexterity, leading to reduced blood loss and improved patient outcomes. PROSPERO registration: CRD42023462348.

Temporal Trends in Treatment and Outcomes of Endometrial Carcinoma in the United States, 2005-2020

Endometrial cancer has continued to see a rising incidence in the US over the years. The main aim of this study was to assess current trends in patients' characteristics and outcomes of treatment for endometrial carcinoma over 16 years. A dataset from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) for patients diagnosed with endometrial carcinoma from 2005 to 2020 was used in this retrospective, case series study. The main outcomes and measures of interest included tumor characteristics, hospitalization, treatments, mortality, and overall survival. Then, 569,817 patients who were diagnosed with endometrial carcinoma were included in this study. The mean (SD) age at diagnosis was 62.7 (11.6) years, but 66,184 patients (11.6%) were younger than 50 years, indicating that more patients are getting diagnosed at younger ages. Of the patients studied, 37,079 (6.3%) were Hispanic, 52,801 (9.3%) were non-Hispanic Black, 432,058 (75.8%) were non-Hispanic White, and 48,879 (8.6%) were other non-Hispanic. Patients in the 4th period from 2017 to 2020 were diagnosed more with stage IV (7.1% vs. 5.2% vs. 5.4% vs. 5.9%; p < 0.001) disease compared with those in the other three periods. More patients with severe comorbidities (Charlson Comorbidity Index score of three) were seen in period 4 compared to the first three periods (3.9% vs. ≤1.9%). Systemic chemotherapy use (14.1% vs. 17.7% vs. 20.4% vs. 21.1%; p < 0.001) and immunotherapy (0.01% vs. 0.01% vs. 0.2% vs. 1.1%; p < 0.001) significantly increased from period 1 to 4. The use of laparotomy decreased significantly from 42.1% in period 2 to 16.7% in period 4, while robotic surgery usage significantly increased from 41.5% in period 2 to 64.3% in period 4. The 30-day and 90-day mortality decreased from 0.6% in period 1 to 0.2% in period 4 and 1.4% in period 1 to 0.6% in period 4, respectively. Over the period studied, we found increased use of immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and minimally invasive surgery for the management of endometrial cancer. Overall, the time interval from cancer diagnosis to final surgery increased by about 6 days. The improvements observed in the outcomes examined can probably be associated with the treatment trends observed.

The da Vinci robotic surgery system for the management of endometrial cancer: a single-center experience

The aim of this study was to report our single-center experience of the da Vinci robotic surgery system in the management of endometrial cancer (EC) patients during 2019-2023. We descriptively summarized the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative outcomes. Moreover, we conducted subgroup analyses based on obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) and the intraoperative use of indocyanine green dye (ICG). Overall, 100 patients were analyzed. Eighty-five patients (85%) were obese. The mean operative time and estimated blood loss (EBL) were 240.84 ± 70.08 min (range: 110-720) and 104.2 ± 80.3 ml (range: 20-500), respectively. The mean number of retrieved pelvic LNs was 3.01 ± 3.06 (range: 0-15). The use of ICG was employed in 58 (58%). Only a single patient (1%) underwent conversion to laparotomy. Besides, only three (3%) patients experienced vaginal laceration intraoperatively, respectively. The mean hospital stay was 1.34 ± 0.69 days (range: 1-5). No patient experienced postoperative complications. Most tumors had endometrioid histology (82%), grade-1 tumor (49%), and stage-1A disease (67%). At 3-year follow-up, only two patients (2%) developed recurrence. Patients who received the ICG had significantly lower operative time (225.86 vs. 261.52 min, p = 0.011), estimated blood loss (90 vs. 123.81 ml, p = 0.037), and hospital stay (1.12 vs. 1.64 days, p < 0.001) compared with patients who did not receive it. However, there was no significant difference between both groups regarding the number of retrieved pelvic LNs. Obesity had no significant impact on the rates of intraoperative complications, postoperative complications, and 3-year recurrence incidence. In conclusion, robotic surgery was technically feasible and safe. The use of ICG was statistically linked to favorable outcomes, in terms of decreased operative time, EBL, and hospital stay. Obesity did not impact the perioperative surgical outcomes.

Robotic-assisted surgery in high-risk surgical patients with endometrial cancer

Many patients diagnosed with an endometrial cancer are at high-risk for surgery due to factors such as advanced age, raised body mass index or frailty. Minimally-invasive surgery, in particular robotic-assisted, is increasingly used in the surgical management of endometrial cancer however, there are a lack of clinical trials investigating outcomes in high-risk patient populations. This article will review the current evidence and identify areas of uncertainty where future research is needed.

Recent management of endometrial cancer: a narrative review of the literature

Endometrial cancer is a common female gynecological neoplasia and its incidence rate has increased in the past years. Due to its predominant symptoms, most women will present uterine bleeding. It is usually diagnosed at an early stage and surgery has an important role in the treatment plan. The prognosis and quality of life of these patients can be quite favorable, if proper treatment is offered by surgeons. Traditionally, more invasive approaches and procedures were offered to these patients, but recent data suggest that more conservative and minimal invasive choices can be adopted in the treatment algorithm. Minimal invasive surgery, such as laparoscopy and robotic surgery, should be considered as an acceptable alternative, compared to laparotomy with less comorbidities and similar oncological and survival outcomes. Furthermore, sentinel lymph node biopsy has emerged in the surgical staging of endometrial cancer, in order to replace comprehensive lymphadenectomy. It is associated with less intra- and postoperative complications, while preliminary data show no difference in survival rates. However, sentinel lymph node biopsy should be offered within a strict algorithm, to avoid residual metastatic disease. The aim of this review is to analyze all the available data for the application of minimal invasive surgery in early endometrial cancer and especially the role of sentinel lymph node biopsy.

Oncologic outcomes of robot-assisted laparoscopy versus conventional laparoscopy for the treatment of apparent early-stage endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterus

OBJECTIVE

To compare long-term oncologic outcomes in patients with clinically uterine-confined endometrioid endometrial cancer who underwent surgical staging with robot-assisted (RA) versus conventional laparoscopy.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with newly diagnosed, uterine-confined endometrioid endometrial cancer who were treated and had primary surgery at our institution between 1/1/2009-1/1/2018. Clinicopathologic, surgical, and survival data were collected. Appropriate statistical methods were applied.

RESULTS

Of 1728 patients identified, 1389 (80.4%) underwent RA and 339 (19.6%) conventional laparoscopy. At diagnosis, median age was 60 years (range, 24-92) and median BMI was 30.2 kg/m2 (range, 15.1-71.5). In the RA group, patients had longer operative time (170 vs 152 min, P < .001), lower conversion rate to laparotomy (0.6% vs 4.7%, P < .001), and a higher proportion had a BMI > 40 kg/m2 (17.2% vs 11.5%, P = .01) and same-day discharge (19.2% vs 5.3%, P < .001). Overall, 93% (RA) and 90% (conventional) of patients underwent lymph node assessment (P = .1). Comparing the RA versus conventional groups, final surgical stage on pathology (P = .6), median follow-up (55.7 vs 52.9 months, P = .4), and rates of perioperative complications (9.9% vs 7.7%, P = .6), recurrence (9.5% vs 7.4%, P = .3), 5-year PFS (88.5% vs 91.0%, P = .3), and 5-year OS (92.5% vs 92.4%, P = .7) were not significantly different. No significant increase in risk of recurrence (HR = 1.2, 95% CI: 0.8-1.9, P = .3) or poorer OS outcomes (HR = 0.9, 95% CI: 0.6-1.4, P = .7) were observed in the RA group.

CONCLUSION

In uterine-confined endometrioid endometrial cancers, surgical staging using RA laparoscopy was not associated with adverse survival outcomes compared to conventional laparoscopy.

Robotic surgery in Gynecology: the present and the future

Since its introduction, laparoscopic surgery has been often preferred over open surgery in obstetrics and gynecology due to its advantages, such as less bleeding, lower incidence of adhesions, reduced postoperative pain, short hospital stay, and quick return to daily life. However, in the case of complex surgeries, laparoscopy presented some limitations. Nonetheless, since the 1980s, medical robots have been introduced to overcome the technical limitations of laparoscopy and start a new age for minimally invasive surgery. In this review, we explore the indications and advantages and disadvantages of robotic surgery in the field of gynecology, and try to assess the recent trend of robotic surgery.

Trends in surgical approach to hysterectomy and perioperative outcomes in Michigan hospitals from 2010 through 2020

The objective of this study was to determine the trends in surgical approach to hysterectomy over the last decade and compare perioperative outcomes and complications. This retrospective cohort study used clinical registry data from the Michigan Hospitals that participated in Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative (MSQC) from January 1st, 2010 through December 30th, 2020. A multigroup time series analysis was performed to determine how surgical approach to hysterectomy [open/TAH, laparoscopic (TLH/LAVH), and robotic-assisted (RA)] has changed over the last decade. Abnormal uterine bleeding, uterine fibroids, chronic pelvic pain, pelvic organ prolapse, endometriosis, pelvic mass, and endometrial cancer were the most common indications for hysterectomy. The open approach to hysterectomy declined from 32.6 to 16.9%, a 1.9-fold decrease, with an average decline of 1.6% per year (95% CI - 2.3 to - 0.9%). Laparoscopic-assisted hysterectomies decreased from 27.2 to 23.8%, a 1.5-fold decrease, with an average decrease of 0.1% per year (95% CI - 0.7 to 0.6%). Finally, the robotic-assisted approach increased from 38.3 to 49.3%, a 1.25-fold increase, with an average of 1.1% per year (95% CI 0.5 to 1.7%). For malignant cases, open procedures decreased from 71.4 to 26.6%, a 2.7-fold decrease, while RA-hysterectomy increased from 19.0 to 58.7%, a 3.1-fold increase. After controlling for the confounding variables age, race, and gynecologic malignancy, RA hysterectomy was found to have the lowest rate of complications when compared to the vaginal, laparoscopic and open approaches. Finally, after controlling for uterine weight, black patients were twice as likely to undergo an open hysterectomy compared to white patients.

Retracted: A Meta-Analysis of Robotic Surgery in Endometrial Cancer: Comparison with Laparoscopy and Laparotomy

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1155/2020/2503753.].

Enhanced Recovery after Uterine Corpus Cancer Surgery: A 10 Year Retrospective Cohort Study of Robotic Surgery in an NHS Cancer Centre

Simple Summary

Surgical and survival outcomes for uterine corpus cancer following the introduction of robotic surgery to Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust; a large volume United Kingdom teaching hospital and cancer centre. Introduction of the Da Vinci^TM robot was associated with enhanced recovery after surgery with low 30-day mortality (0.1%), low return to theatre (0.5%), a low use of blood transfusion and intensive care (1.8% & 7.2% respectively), low conversion to open surgery (0.5%) and a reduction in median length of stay, with comparable survival to published data, and a three to four fold increase in cases treated. This increased productivity was associated with a highly predicable patient pathway of care, for high-risk patients, with reduced demands on health services.

Abstract

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust introduced robotic surgery for uterine corpus cancer in 2010 to support increased access to minimally invasive surgery, a central element of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway. More than 1750 gynaecological oncology robotic procedures have now been performed at Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust. A retrospective cohort study was performed of patients undergoing surgery for uterine corpus cancer between the 1 January 2010 and the 31 December 2019 to evaluate its success. Data was extracted from the dedicated gynaecological oncology database and a detailed notes review performed. During this time; 952 patients received primary surgery for uterine corpus cancer; robotic: n = 734; open: n = 164; other minimally invasive surgery: n = 54. The introduction of the Da Vinci^TM robot to Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust was associated with an increase in the minimally invasive surgery rate. Prior to the introduction of robotic surgery in 2008 the minimally invasive surgery (MIS) rate was 33% for women with uterine corpus cancer undergoing full surgical staging. In 2019, 10 years after the start of the robotic surgery program 91.3% of women with uterine corpus cancer received robotic surgery. Overall the MIS rate increased from 33% in 2008 to 92.9% in 2019. Robotic surgery is associated with a low 30-day mortality (0.1%), low return to theatre (0.5%), a low use of blood transfusion and intensive care (1.8% & 7.2% respectively), low conversion to open surgery (0.5%) and a reduction in median length of stay from 6 days (in 2008) to 1 day, regardless of age/BMI. Robotic survival is consistent with published data. Introduction of the robotic program for the treatment of uterine cancer increased productivity and was associated with a highly predicable patient pathway of care, for high-risk patients, with reduced demands on health services. Future health care commissioning should further expand access to robotic surgery nationally for women with uterine corpus cancer.

Prognosis and Efficacy of Laparoscopic Surgery on Patients with Endometrial Carcinoma: Systematic Evaluation and Meta-Analysis

Objective

The prognosis and efficacy of laparoscopic surgery (LPS) and open surgery or robotic surgery (RS) on endometrial carcinoma (EC) patients were compared.

Methods

Data as of May 2021 were retrieved from databases like PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. The study involved randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies, or case-control studies for comparing the effects of LPS and open surgery or robotic surgery (RS) on EC treatment. The primary outcomes included duration of operation, blood loss, length of stay (LOS), postoperative complications, and recurrence rate. Secondary outcomes included 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate/disease-free survival (DFS) rate and 3-year overall survival (OS) rate.

Results

A total of 24 studies were involved, and all of them were cohort studies except 1 RCT and 1 case-control study. There was no significant difference in duration of operation between LPS and open surgery (MD = −0.06, 95% CI: -0.37 to 0.25) or RS (MD = −0.15, 95% CI: -1.27 to 0.96). In comparison with the open surgery, LPS remarkably reduced blood loss (MD = −0.43, 95% CI: -0.58 to -0.29), LOS (MD = −0.71, 95% CI: -0.92 to -0.50), and the complication occurrence rate (RR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.73 to 0.95). However, LPS and RS saw no difference in blood loss (MD = 0.01, 95% CI: -0.77 to 0.79). Besides, in comparison with RS, LPS prominently shortened the LOS (MD = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.12 to 0.40) but increased the complication occurrence rate (RR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.57 to 1.92). In contrast to open surgery or RS, LPS saw no difference in occurrence rate (RR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.56 to 1.01; RR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.62 to 1.53), 3-year PFS/DFS (RR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.90 to 1.09; RR = 1.30, 95% CI: 0.87 to 1.96), and 3-year OS (RR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.91 to 1.04; RR = 1.21, 95% CI: 0.91 to 1.60).

Conclusion

In sum, LPS was better than open surgery, which manifested in the aspects of less blood loss, shorter LOS, and fewer complications. LPS, therefore, was the most suitable option for EC patients. Nevertheless, LPS had no advantage over RS, and sufficient prospective RCTs are needed to further confirm its strengths.

Peri-operative and survival outcomes analysis of patients with endometrial cancer managed by three surgical approaches: a long-term Bulgarian experience

The study aim was to assess the peri-operative, oncologic, and survival outcomes for patients with endometrial cancer (EC) managed by abdominal hysterectomy (AH), laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH), or robotic hysterectomy (RH) approaches at premier centers in Bulgaria. We analyzed histologically diagnosed EC cases operated via any of the three surgical methods during 2008-2019. Data analyses included patients and tumor characteristics, peri-operative outcomes, and disease status. We grouped FIGO stages I and II to represent early-stage EC and to investigate their survival. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were performed to determine disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Consecutive 917 patients (AH = 466; LH = 60, RH = 391) formed the basis of study analyses. Most of demographics and tumor characteristics of the patients were comparable across the groups except few minor variations (e.g., LH/RH cases were younger, heavier, more stage IA, endometrioid, G1, low-risk group). LH and RH group cases had significantly lower operative time than AH (p < 0.001), shorter hospital length-of-stay (p < 0.001), higher post-operative Hgb (p < 0.001). RH cases had fewer blood transfusions than AH or LH (p < 0.001). Cox multivariate analyses indicate that OS was not influenced by the type of surgical approach. Despite the fact that the DFS in "early-stage" EC is significantly better in AH group than RH, the type of surgery (i.e., AH, LH, or RH) for "all stages" is insignificant factor for DFS. With our long-term experience, minimally invasive surgical approach resulted in superior peri-operative, oncologic, and survival outcomes. Specifically, RH is not only safe in terms of post-operative results, but also for mortality and oncologic rates.

Clinical issues of surgery for uterine endometrial cancer in Japan

OBJECTIVE

The mainstay of treatment for uterine endometrial cancer is surgery, and recurrent-risk cases require multidisciplinary treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

METHODS

The standard surgery for uterine endometrial cancer is hysterectomy and bilateral salpingooophorectomy, with additional retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and omentectomy, depending on the case. The appropriate treatment is determined based on the risk classification, such as the depth of invasion into the myometrium, diagnosis of histological type and grade, and risk assessment of lymph node metastasis.

RESULTS

Recently, minimally invasive surgery has been widely used not only in low-risk patients but also in intermediate- and high-risk patients. In low-risk patients, the possibility of ovarian preservation is discussed from a healthcare perspective for young women. Determining the need for retroperitoneal lymph node dissection based on sentinel lymph node evaluation may contribute in minimizing the incidence of post-operative lymphedema while ensuring accurate diagnosis of lymph node metastasis. Recently, many studies using sentinel lymph nodes have been reported for patients with uterine endometrial cancer, and the feasibility of sentinel lymph node mapping surgery has been proven. Unfortunately, sentinel lymph node biopsy and sentinel lymph node mapping surgery have not been widely adopted in surgery for uterine cancer in Japan. In addition, the search for biomarkers, such as RNA sequencing using The Cancer Genome Atlas, metabolic profile and lipidomic profile for early detection and prognostic evaluation, has been actively pursued.

CONCLUSIONS

Gynecologic oncologists expect to be able to provide uterine endometrial cancer patients with appropriate treatment that preserves their quality of life without compromising oncologic outcomes in the near future.

How molecular imaging will enable robotic precision surgery : The role of artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and navigation

Molecular imaging is one of the pillars of precision surgery. Its applications range from early diagnostics to therapy planning, execution, and the accurate assessment of outcomes. In particular, molecular imaging solutions are in high demand in minimally invasive surgical strategies, such as the substantially increasing field of robotic surgery. This review aims at connecting the molecular imaging and nuclear medicine community to the rapidly expanding armory of surgical medical devices. Such devices entail technologies ranging from artificial intelligence and computer-aided visualization technologies (software) to innovative molecular imaging modalities and surgical navigation (hardware). We discuss technologies based on their role at different steps of the surgical workflow, i.e., from surgical decision and planning, over to target localization and excision guidance, all the way to (back table) surgical verification. This provides a glimpse of how innovations from the technology fields can realize an exciting future for the molecular imaging and surgery communities.

Complications in laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgery: definitions, classifications, incidence and risk factors - an up-to-date review

Almost all gynecological and general-surgical operations are - or can be - performed laparoscopically. In comparison to an abdominal approach, the minimally invasive access offers several advantages; however, laparoscopy (both conventional and robotic-assisted) can be associated with a number of approach-specific complications. Although the majority of them are related to the laparoscopic entry, adverse events may also occur due to the presence of pneumoperitoneum or the use of laparoscopic instruments. Unfortunately, a high proportion of complications (especially affecting the bowel and ureter) remain unrecognized during surgery. This narrative review provides comprehensive up-to-date information about definitions, classifications, risk factors and incidence of surgical complications in conventional and robotic-assisted laparoscopy, with a special focus on gynecology. The topic is discussed from various perspectives, e.g. in the context of stage of surgery, injured organs, involved instruments, and in relation to malpractice claims.

Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery for Endometrial and Cervical Cancer

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has many benefits, in the form of reduced postoperative morbidity, improved recovery and reduced inpatient stay. It is imperative, however, when new techniques are adopted, in the context of treating oncology patients, that the oncological efficacy and safety are established rigorously rather than assumed based on first principles. Here we have attempted to provide a comprehensive review of all the contentious and topical themes surrounding the use of MIS in the treatment of endometrial and cervix cancer following a thorough review of the literature. On the topic of endometrial cancer, we cover the role of laparoscopy in both early and advanced disease, together with the role and unique benefits of robotic surgery. The surgical challenge of patients with a raised body mass index and the frail and elderly are discussed and finally the role of sentinel lymph node assessment. For cervical cancer, the role of MIS for staging and primary treatment is covered, together with the interesting and highly specialist topics of fertility-sparing treatment, ovarian transposition and the live birth rate associated with this. We end with a discussion on the evidence surrounding the role of adjuvant hysterectomy following radical chemoradiation and pelvic exenteration for recurrent cervical cancer. MIS is the standard of care for endometrial cancer. The future of MIS for cervix cancer, however, remains uncertain. Current recommendations, based on the available evidence, are that the open approach should be considered the gold standard for the surgical management of early cervical cancer and that MIS should only be adopted in the context of research. Careful counselling of patients on the current evidence, discussing in detail the risks and benefits to enable them to make an informed choice, remains paramount.

Robotic platforms for endometrial cancer treatment: review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

The cornerstone in the management of endometrial cancer (EC) is surgical staging. Over the last few decades, minimally invasive surgery has been widely accepted as a mainstay in the treatment of endometrial cancer. The first robotic-assisted gynecological surgery was performed in 1998.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

The literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE and PUBMED databases from January 1998 to September 2020.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Several studies have reported the advantages of robotic-assisted surgery over laparoscopy in the management of EC. These are most pronounced in obese patients. Robotic-assisted surgery is also associated with a shorter learning curve, particularly for lymphadenectomy, which enables more surgeons to perform minimally invasive surgery for EC.

CONCLUSIONS

The effectiveness and oncological results of robotic surgery for EC appear to be similar to those of other surgical methods, but fewer intraoperative complications occur than with other methods.