Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2025
Robot-assisted Total Mesorectal Excision and Lateral Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection for Locally Advanced Middle-low Rectal Cancer
Published on: February 12, 2022
Comparing the long-term follow-up anal function between robot-assisted and laparoscopic surgery for low rectal
Gaoyang Cao1, Yaoyao Zhao2, Xinjie Zhang1
1Department of Colorectal Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Background:
Robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) is increasingly used for treating low rectal cancer. Its comparative effectiveness against laparoscopic surgery (LAS) in enhancing long-term anal function remains uncertain.
Methods:
A meta-analysis was conducted to compare long-term anal function outcomes between patients undergoing RAS and LAS. Meta-regression and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess available evidence. Studies published up to September 2023 in English or Chinese were included.
Results:
Seven studies were identified. RAS patients exhibited lower low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) scores (standardised mean difference [SMD] = -1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -2.64 to -0.15) and Wexner scores (SMD = -0.74; 95% CI: -1.20 to -0.27) compared with LAS patients. However, RAS did not significantly reduce major LARS risk (odds ratio = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.68-1.04).
Conclusions:
RAS slightly improved postoperative anal function compared with LAS. Further studies with large samples are warranted to confirm or update our findings.
