Perioperative pain after robot-assisted versus laparoscopic rectal resection

Area of Science:

• Surgical Oncology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Pain Management

Background:

• Robot-assisted laparoscopy is increasingly used for rectal cancer treatment.
• The scientific evidence supporting its benefits over standard laparoscopy remains limited.
• This study aimed to compare perioperative pain and analgesic use between robotic and laparoscopic rectal resection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if robot-assisted laparoscopic rectal resection results in less perioperative pain compared to standard laparoscopic resection.
• To compare pain levels using the numerical rating scale (NRS) and morphine consumption between the two surgical techniques.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-one patients were randomized to either laparoscopic or robot-assisted rectal resection.
• Intraoperative and postoperative analgesic consumption was prospectively recorded.
• Postoperative pain was measured using the numerical rating scale (NRS).

Main Results:

• Opioid consumption during surgery was significantly lower in the robotic group (p=0.0001).
• No significant differences were observed in postoperative opioid consumption or NRS pain scores.
• Fewer conversions to open surgery occurred in the robotic group (1 vs 10).

Conclusions:

• Robot-assisted rectal resection requires less intraoperative analgesia compared to laparoscopic surgery.
• There is no significant difference in postoperative pain or morphine consumption between the two techniques.
• Robotic surgery may reduce the need for conversion to open procedures.