Combined endoscopic robotic surgery for complex colonic polyp resection: case series

Area of Science:

• Colorectal Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Robotic Surgery

Background:

• Combined endoscopic and robotic surgery is a novel technique modifying traditional combined endoscopic laparoscopic surgery.
• This technique utilizes robotic assistance for enhanced surgical procedures.
• The study aimed to characterize patients undergoing this modified operative technique.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of combined endoscopic and robotic surgery.
• To characterize patient outcomes following this novel surgical approach.
• To compare the technique's performance against established methods.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective case series of 37 consecutive patients.
• Data collected from March 2018 to October 2019.
• Key outcomes included operative time, intra-operative and 30-day post-operative complications, and hospital length of stay.

Main Results:

• The technique was completed in 86.5% of cases with a median operative time of 73 minutes.
• No intraoperative complications occurred; 6.3% experienced 30-day post-operative complications.
• Median hospital stay was 1.1 days, with successful resection of polyps up to 130 mm.

Conclusions:

• Combined endoscopic robotic surgery demonstrated decreased operative time, complication rates, and hospital stay compared to literature.
• Enhanced 3D visualization and intracorporeal suturing were noted benefits.
• Further research is required to fully establish the role of robotics in combined endoscopic surgery.