Emergency robotic colorectal surgery during COVID-19 pandemic: A retrospective case series study

While interest in elective robotic surgery is growing, use in emergency setting remains limited due to challenges posed by sicker patients, advanced pathology and logistical issues. During the COVID-19 pandemic, robotic surgery could provide the benefit of having the surgeon away from the bedside and reducing the number of directly exposed medical staff. The objective of this study was to report patient outcomes and initial learning experience of emergency robotic colorectal surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A case series study was conducted, including patients undergoing emergency robotic colorectal surgery between February 2020 and February 2021 at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, UK. Patient data were collected from an ethics approved prospective database. Patient demographics, operative time, conversions and postoperative complications were recorded. In addition, readmissions, length of stay and short-term oncological outcomes were analyzed.

Ten patients with median age 64 y (range, 36-83 y) were included. Four patients had robotic complete mesocolic resection for obstructing cancers. Six had colorectal resections for benign disease in emergency setting. All were R0 with a mean lymph node harvest of 54 ± 13. Mean operative time was 249 ± 117 min, the median length of stay was 9.4 d (range, 5-22 d). Only one patient was given a temporary diverting ileostomy. There were no grade III/V complications and no 30-day mortality.

Provided an experienced team and peri-operative planning, emergency robotic colorectal surgery can achieve favorable outcomes with benefits of radical lymph node dissection in oncological cases and avoidance of diverting stoma.