Robotic Single-Site Cholecystectomy: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

Area of Science:

• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Surgical Technology
• Gastrointestinal Surgery

Background:

• Cholecystectomy is a common gallbladder removal procedure.
• Robotic single-site cholecystectomy (RSSC) offers a minimally invasive alternative to traditional laparoscopic surgery.
• RSSC may lead to reduced postoperative pain and analgesic requirements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and report outcomes of patients undergoing robotic single-site cholecystectomy (RSSC) at a single institution.
• To evaluate the safety and feasibility of RSSC.
• To assess postoperative outcomes including complications and discharge rates.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of 33 RSSC cases performed between September 2020 and August 2023.
• Data collected included patient demographics (age, sex, BMI) and postoperative outcomes.
• Outcomes assessed: wound complications, infections, biliary leakage, blood loss, and conversion rates.

Main Results:

• The study included 33 patients (72.7% female, 27.3% male) with a median age of 32 and BMI of 24.2 kg/m².
• Most common indications were symptomatic cholelithiasis (54.5%) and biliary dyskinesia (39.4%).
• Average blood loss was 5.91 mL; 96.9% of patients were discharged same-day. One patient experienced cellulitis, and no conversions to open surgery occurred.

Conclusions:

• Robotic single-site cholecystectomy (RSSC) is a practical and safe procedure for gallbladder removal.
• RSSC demonstrates a low complication profile and high patient satisfaction with same-day discharge.
• While laparoscopic cholecystectomy remains standard, RSSC presents a viable alternative for benign gallbladder disease.