Robot-assisted laparoscopic colorectal surgery

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignancies seen in developed countries. Its current treatment is based on a multidisciplinary approach entailing surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Surgery can be performed with open and minimal invasive methods. Single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS), natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) and robot assisted laparoscopic surgery (RALS) are the final points to be reached in minimally invasive surgery. The first robotic colorectal surgical intervention was performed in 2001 after getting the FDA approval for the da Vinci surgical system in intraabdominal surgery, and since then, its use in this field gradually increased. Compared to open surgery, the advantage and superiority of robotic surgery, especially in narrow areas such as the pelvis, has been shown in many studies. It is a safe and feasible method. Although there are many existing studies about minimally invasive surgery, more randomized studies with larger case numbers should be carried out in order to establish the favorable oncological and functional outcomes of robotic surgery in addition to its obviously observed advantages.

Robot-assisted laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection for low rectal cancer

BACKGROUND

This article reports on patients with low rectal cancer treated with robot-assisted laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection.

METHODS

Robot-assisted laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection was performed on seven patients in the General Surgery Clinic of Umraniye Training and Research Hospital between 2010 and 2011 by performing abdominal and perineal skin incisions using the same technique. Gender, age of the patients, intraoperative and postoperative complications, morbidity and mortality were evaluated.

RESULTS

Five of the patients were male and two of them were female. Mean age was 59.2 years. All of the procedures were completed robotically. No intraoperative complication occurred, whereas urinary bladder dysfunction (n = 1) and chylous ascites (n = 1), treated conservatively, developed in the postoperative period. On histopathological examination, surgical and circumferential margins were found to be negative in all specimens. Early recurrence was not found on postoperative follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery can be performed safely in narrow and deep anatomical areas, such as the pelvis.