Minimally invasive colorectal surgery: status and technical specifications

Area of Science:

• Colorectal Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Surgical Technology

Background:

• Laparoscopic surgery represents a major technological advancement in colorectal surgery, demonstrating safety, feasibility, and oncologic equivalence compared to open procedures.
• Despite clear clinical benefits, laparoscopic approaches have not fully replaced open surgery for colorectal cancer.
• A trend towards less invasive technologies aims to optimize patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the historical development, current applications, technical aspects, and future evolution of minimally invasive platforms in colorectal surgery.
• To compare conventional laparoscopy, hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS), single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS), and robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RALS).

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature and comparative studies on minimally invasive colorectal surgery platforms.
• Analysis of the evolution and adaptations of laparoscopic techniques.
• Examination of the costs, benefits, and outcomes of different minimally invasive approaches.

Main Results:

• Laparoscopy, HALS, SILS, and RALS have demonstrated comparable outcomes in comparative studies.
• Each platform offers unique advantages and disadvantages.
• These technologies serve a complementary role in expanding the adoption of minimally invasive colorectal surgery.

Conclusions:

• Minimally invasive techniques, including advanced laparoscopic methods, are crucial for improving colorectal surgery outcomes.
• The various platforms (laparoscopy, HALS, SILS, RALS) collectively contribute to increasing the use of minimally invasive approaches.
• Continued evolution of these technologies is expected to further optimize patient care in colorectal surgery.