Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2025
09:19
Robotic Taj Mahal Hepatectomy for Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma
Published on: July 14, 2022
3.4K
10 years, 100 robotic major hepatectomies: a single-center experience
Frances McCarron1, Allyson Cochran2, Ansley Ricker3
1Division of Hepatobiliary & Pancreas Surgery, Department of Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Atrium Health, 1025 Morehead Medical Dr. Suite 600, Charlotte, NC, 28204, USA. fnmccarron@gmail.com.
Surgical Endoscopy
|October 16, 2023
Summary
Robotic major hepatectomy outcomes show improvement over time, with a learning curve plateauing around 50 cases. This demonstrates the feasibility of developing successful robotic liver surgery programs.
Area of Science:
- Hepatobiliary Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Robotic Surgery
Background:
- Robotic liver resections are increasingly adopted in HPB surgery.
- Limited literature exists on the benefits of robotic surgery for major hepatectomies compared to open or laparoscopic approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a 10-year experience and outcomes of major robotic liver resections.
- To compare outcomes between early and late robotic major hepatectomy cases to identify practice improvements.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 100 major robotic hepatectomies performed between 2012 and 2022.
- Comparison of outcomes between the first 50 cases (Group A) and the second 50 cases (Group B).
- Statistical analysis including Wilcoxon rank-sum, chi-squared tests, and logistic regression.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in operative time, estimated blood loss, length of stay, 90-day readmission, major complications, or 90-day mortality between groups.
- Significantly lower ICU admissions and conversion rates in Group B (later cases).
- Higher expert-level difficulty indices in Group B, indicating increased complexity handled.
Conclusions:
- Establishing a robotic liver surgery program with favorable outcomes is achievable over time.
- The learning curve for robotic major hepatectomy appears to plateau around 50 cases at our institution.
