Comparison of FreeHand^® robot-assisted with human-assisted laparoscopic fundoplication

To compare the safety, operative time and feasibilty of FreeHand^® robot (FreeHand Ltd, Guildford, United Kingdom) with manual camera control approach for Laparoscopic Fundoplication.

A case control study was performed for patients undergoing laparoscopic fundoplication. Primary outcome was operative time; secondary outcomes included length of stay, post-operative morbidity, symptoms at first follow-up and total post-operative out-patient visits.

Forty-four patients underwent laparoscopic fundoplication between January 2014 and June 2016. Twenty-six (59%) underwent conventional human-assisted fundoplication while 18 (41%) had FreeHand^® robot assisted procedures. Mean operative time for conventional laparoscopic fundoplication was 165 min compared with 129 min in the robot-assisted group, saving 36 min (p < .001).The median length of stay was 1.5 days in the robot-assisted as compared to two days in the conventional group. Sixteen percent of robot-assisted as opposed to 30% of conventional group patients experienced complications. There was no 30-day mortality. Two patients required more than one post-operative clinic visit in robot-assisted against six in conventional group.

Robot-assisted fundoplication is safe, feasible and reduces operative time. Furthermore, this negates need of assistant. Mean operative time for robot-assisted fundoplication was 36 min less than for conventional fundoplication. Advantages also include fewer adverse events, shorter length of stay and less post-operative clinic visits.