No beneficial effect on survival but a decrease in postoperative complications in patients with rectal cancer...

Area of Science:

• Surgical Oncology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Rectal Cancer Treatment

Background:

• Robotic surgery aims to overcome limitations of conventional surgical techniques.
• Rectal cancer treatment traditionally involves open or laparoscopic surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare oncologic outcomes between robotic and laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer.
• To evaluate survival rates, operative conditions, complications, and pathological characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of 314 patients (robot group) and 220 patients (laparoscopy group) with rectal cancer.
• Data collected between March 2011 and December 2018.
• Primary endpoint: survival outcomes; Secondary endpoints: operative conditions, complications, pathological features.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) between groups (P > 0.05).
• Robotic surgery group showed shorter operation times, faster return of bowel function, and shorter hospital stays (P < 0.01).
• Lower incidence of short- and long-term complications in the robotic group (15.9% vs. 32.3%, P < 0.001), particularly urinary retention.

Conclusions:

• Robot-assisted rectal cancer resection demonstrates short-term benefits, including reduced complications and faster recovery.
• Survival outcomes for robotic surgery are comparable to conventional laparoscopy for rectal cancer.
• Robotic surgery is a viable alternative for rectal cancer treatment, offering improved short-term patient recovery.