Robotic surgery for the upper gastrointestinal tract: Current status and future perspectives

Area of Science:

• Surgical Oncology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Robotic Surgery

Background:

• The da Vinci Surgical System is widely used globally, particularly in urology and gynecology.
• Robotic surgery has not become standard for upper gastrointestinal tract procedures due to unclear benefits over conventional minimally invasive surgery.
• Robotic gastrectomy and esophagectomy for upper gastrointestinal cancer were initiated in 2009.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current status and future perspectives of robotic surgery for gastric and esophageal cancer.
• To highlight the potential advantages and disadvantages of the da Vinci Surgical System in this context.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on robotic surgery for gastric and esophageal cancer.
• Analysis of institutional experience with robotic gastrectomy and esophagectomy since 2009.

Main Results:

• The da Vinci Surgical System demonstrated potential advantages in reducing postoperative local complications after gastrectomy.
• Reduced recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy was observed after robotic esophagectomy.
• Disadvantages include longer operative times and higher costs compared to conventional approaches.

Conclusions:

• Robotic surgery for gastric and esophageal cancer shows promise in improving specific postoperative outcomes.
• Further research and technological advancements are needed to overcome current limitations and establish robotic surgery as a standard approach.