Robotically assisted aorto-femoral bypass grafting: lessons learned from our initial experience

The da Vinci trade mark Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical Inc., Sunnyvale, CA) is a computer-enhanced telemanipulator that may help to overcome some limitations of traditional laparoscopic instruments. This prospective study was performed to assess the safety and feasibility of robotically assisted aorto-femoral bypass grafting (AF).

Five patients undergoing elective AF were enrolled in this study. In three patients, a laparotomy of 6 cm was first performed, the aorta being exposed using an Omnitract degrees retractor. In two patients, aortic dissection was performed with laparoscopy, with the patient in a modified right lateral decubitus position. In all patients, the proximal anastomosis was attempted with the da Vinci trade mark system by a remote surgeon. The role of the assistant at the patient's side was limited to exposure, haemostasis and maintaining traction on the running sutures performed by the robot. Six weeks after the operation, all patients underwent a duplex scan of the graft.

Mean operative time was 188 min. Robotically assisted aortic anastomoses were successfully completed in four out of five patients. In these four patients, adequate blood flow was observed within the graft with no need for conversion for haemostasis. In the fifth patient, despite an adequate laparoscopic aortic dissection, the anastomosis was impossible to perform due to external conflicts between the robotic arms. A conversion using conventional suture was successfully performed. No robot-related complications were noted. Six weeks after the operation, the duplex scans demonstrated a graft patency of 100%.

Robotically assisted anastomoses are possible by their unique ability to combine conventional laparoscopic surgery with stereoscopic 3D magnification and ultra-precise suturing techniques due to the flexibility of the robotic-wristed instruments using different motion scaling of surgeon hand movements. In addition, prior training in laparoscopic aortic surgery is not necessary for surgeons to obtain the level required for suturing. Further clinical trials are needed to explore the clinical potential and value of robotically assisted AF.