Robotic versus laparoscopic gastrectomy with lymph node dissection for gastric cancer: study protocol for a...

Area of Science:

• Surgical Oncology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Robotic Surgery

Background:

• Laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) offers benefits for gastric cancer (GC) but has limitations, especially in complex dissections.
• Postoperative pancreatic fistula occurs in 4-7% of LG patients.
• Robotic surgery (RG) provides enhanced dexterity and visualization, potentially overcoming LG limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare short-term surgical and long-term oncological outcomes of LG and RG for GC.
• To evaluate the incidence of postoperative intra-abdominal infectious complications in RG versus LG.
• To provide evidence for expanding the use of RG in GC treatment.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, single-center randomized controlled trial (RCT).
• Includes 240 adult patients with surgically resectable gastric cancer (stages I-III).
• Primary endpoint: incidence of postoperative intra-abdominal infectious complications (pancreatic fistula, abscess, anastomotic leakage).

Main Results:

• Previous retrospective data suggested lower intra-abdominal infections with RG (0%) compared to LG (11%).
• This RCT aims to prospectively validate these findings.
• Secondary endpoints include overall complications, surgical results, and oncological outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Robotic-assisted gastrectomy (RG) shows promise in reducing infectious complications for gastric cancer patients.
• Further RCTs are needed to establish the full benefits and oncological efficacy of RG.
• Results will inform guidelines and potentially expand RG adoption for GC.