Initial experience with a novel robotic surgical system in abdominal surgery

Area of Science:

• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Surgical Robotics
• General Surgery

Background:

• Robotic technology adoption is rapidly increasing in general surgery.
• Robotic-assisted abdominal procedures now account for approximately 15.1% of surgeries.
• Potential advantages of robotic surgery continue to drive its acceptance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the initial clinical experience with the Versius surgical robotic system in common abdominal procedures.
• To evaluate the safety and feasibility of the Versius system in a single-center setting.

Main Methods:

• Three experienced robotic surgeons trained on the Versius system using online modules and cadaveric sessions.
• A retrospective review of the first 55 consecutive abdominal procedures performed with the Versius system.
• Data collected included patient demographics and perioperative outcomes.

Main Results:

• Fifty-five procedures were completed, including hernia repairs (30), gallbladder surgery (22), and appendectomies (3).
• No complications or conversions to open surgery were reported.
• Operating room times varied, with appendectomies averaging 35.81 minutes and bilateral inguinal hernia (BIH) repairs averaging 95.2 minutes.

Conclusions:

• The Versius surgical robotic system is safe for initial use in common abdominal procedures across diverse patient demographics.
• This study represents the first report on the Versius system's application in abdominal surgery.
• Larger-scale studies are needed to further assess the clinical utility and long-term outcomes.