Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026
Robot-assisted Total Mesorectal Excision and Lateral Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection for Locally Advanced Middle-low Rectal Cancer
Published on: February 12, 2022
Robot-assisted low anterior resection for situs inversus totalis: a novel technical approach for an uncommon
Quor Meng Leong1, Dong-Nyung Son, Jae-Sung Cho
1Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Introduction:
Situs inversus totalis (SIT) is an uncommon condition, with an incidence of 1 in 10,000. Surgery for SIT patients is more difficult because of the uncommon anatomy. Experience in laparoscopic surgery for patients with SIT is very limited. Only a few cases of laparoscopic colorectal resections have been reported in the literature. We present the first robot-assisted low anterior resection for rectal cancer in a patient with SIT.
Patient:
A 70-year-old woman with SIT who presented with rectal bleeding underwent a colonoscopy and barium enema. This workup revealed a rectal cancer 10 cm from the anal verge. The magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed a T3/4 tumor in the rectum with perirectal lymph node involvement, whereas the computed tomography positron emission tomography scan did not reveal any distal metastasis. She underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy 6 weeks before surgery. Postoperatively, she made an uneventful recovery and was discharged on day 6.
Surgical Technique:
After laparoscopic examination and displacement of the small bowel, 4 robot trocars were inserted into 4 quadrants of the abdomen. A fifth port was inserted and used by the assistant. The robot cart was docked from the right side with arms 1, 2, and 3 in the right upper quadrant (Cadiere grasper), left lower quadrant (bipolar Maryland grasper), and left upper quadrant (monopolar scissors), respectively, for colonic mobilization without splenic flexure takedown. For pelvic dissection, arms 1 and 3 were moved to the right upper quadrant and right lower quadrant, respectively. After adequate pelvic dissection, the robot cart was undocked, and a laparoscopic articulating linear stapler was used to transect the rectum from the left lower quadrant port. Bowel continuity was restored with a circular stapler. A loop ileostomy was created through the extraction site in the right lower quadrant.
Conclusions:
Robot-assisted low anterior resection for SIT patients can be performed safely and confers the benefits of laparoscopic low anterior resection with additional advantages unique to the da Vinci system.
