Single-Incision Robotic Colectomy: Comparison of Short-Term Outcomes with Multiport Robotic Colectomy

Single-incision laparoscopic colectomy (SILC), although it achieves better cosmetic outcomes, less pain, and faster recovery compared with multiport laparoscopic colectomy, has several limitations and technical difficulties. Herein, we report our initial experience with single-incision robotic colectomy (SIRC) compared with multiport robotic colectomy (MPRC). From January 2017 to July 2019, we identified consecutive patients who underwent robotic colectomy. According to the surgical technique, we divided the patients into two groups: SIRC and MPRC. A total of 40 patients underwent robotic colectomy; 20 patients underwent each of SIRC and MPRC. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups. The SIRC group had less blood loss and a shorter average incision length than the MPRC group (P < .05); SIRC also used fewer robotic instruments than MPRC (P ≤ .05). SIRC is a safe and feasible procedure in both right- and left-sided colectomy. SIRC can reduce the total incision length and surgical cost relative to MPRC, reduce surgical instrument collision, and improve the nonergonomic surgical operating environment faced by surgeons performing SILC during surgery.