Comparison between robotic-assisted and laparoscopic left hemi-hepatectomy

To compare the safety and short-term outcomes between robotic-assisted and laparoscopic left hemi-hepatectomies in a single academic medical center.

A cohort of 52 patients, who underwent robotic-assisted or laparoscopic left hemi-hepatectomies between April 2015 and January 2020 in Department of Pancreatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University was recruited into the study. Their clinicopathological features and short-term outcomes were analyzed retrospectively.

There were 25 robotic-assisted and 27 laparoscopic cases, with a median age of 55 years (34-77 years). There was one conversion to open in laparoscopic group. There were no significant differences in clinicopathological features between two groups, except robotic group had higher body mass index (23.9 vs. 22.0 kg/m², p = 0.047). Robotic-assisted and laparoscopic groups had similar operative time (300 vs. 310 min, p = 0.515), length of hospital stay (8 vs. 8 days, p = 0.981) and complication rates (4.0% vs. 14.8%, p = 0.395), but the former had less blood loss (100 vs. 200 ml, p < 0.001) and lower incidence of blood transfusion (0% vs. 22.2%, p = 0.023) in comparison with laparoscopic group. R0 resection was achieved for all patients with malignancies. There was no perioperative mortality in both groups. The cost of robotic group was higher than laparoscopic group (105,870 vs. 64,191 RMB yuan, p = 0.02).

The robotic-assisted and laparoscopic approaches had similar safety and short-term outcomes in left hemi-hepatectomy, and the former can reduce operative blood loss and blood transfusion. However, the costs were higher in robotic group.