Robotic-assisted single-site cholecystectomy in children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Robotic Surgery

Background:

• Single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) offers cosmetic advantages but presents technical challenges.
• Robotic single-site cholecystectomy (RSSC) has emerged as a technique to simplify single-incision procedures.
• The application of RSSC in pediatric patients has not been previously documented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and safety of robotic single-site cholecystectomy (RSSC) in pediatric patients.
• To assess the learning curve and operative times for RSSC in children.
• To compare RSSC outcomes in children with existing data for adults and SILC.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of seventeen consecutive pediatric patients undergoing RSSC by a single surgeon.
• Data collected included patient demographics, operative time, console time, hospital stay, and complications.
• Analysis focused on feasibility, safety, and factors contributing to procedural delays.

Main Results:

• Sixteen out of seventeen procedures were successfully completed using the robotic single-site platform.
• No major postoperative complications were reported.
• Median operative time was 94 minutes, with a notable decrease in operative time for later cases, indicating a learning curve.

Conclusions:

• Robotic single-site cholecystectomy (RSSC) is a feasible and safe procedure for pediatric patients.
• RSSC demonstrates a short learning curve and comparable operative times to adult RSSC and pediatric SILC.
• RSSC presents a technically simpler and attractive alternative to SILC, preserving cosmetic benefits.