[The Current Status and Future Perspective about Robotic Surgery for Gastric Cancer]

Area of Science:

• Surgical Oncology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Robotics in Medicine

Background:

• Robotic surgery, exemplified by the da Vinci® Surgical System, offers enhanced precision with 3D visualization, tremor reduction, and motion scaling.
• Robotic gastrectomy for gastric cancer was first reported in 2003 and has seen development primarily in Japan, Korea, and Italy.
• Prospective clinical phase II trials were initiated in 2012 to evaluate the safety of robotic gastrectomy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the current status and future perspectives of robotic surgery for gastric cancer.
• To summarize the findings from prospective clinical phase II trials on robotic gastrectomy safety.
• To highlight the need for evidence generation and educational programs due to the expanding use of robotic gastrectomy.

Main Methods:

• Prospective clinical phase II trials were conducted to assess the safety of robotic gastrectomy.
• Retrospective analyses have compared robotic gastrectomy with conventional laparoscopic surgery.
• The article reviews existing literature and clinical experience.

Main Results:

• The safety of robotic gastrectomy was confirmed in published clinical trials.
• Retrospective analyses indicate robotic gastrectomy may involve longer operation times but result in less blood loss and lower morbidity compared to laparoscopic surgery.
• Randomized controlled trials are still required to demonstrate superiority in short- and long-term outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Robotic gastrectomy has demonstrated safety and potential benefits, including reduced complications.
• The recent inclusion of robotic gastrectomy in Japan's health insurance system is expected to accelerate its adoption.
• Establishing robust evidence and educational frameworks is crucial for the widespread implementation of robotic gastrectomy.