Initial Experience of Robot-Assisted Surgeries

Area of Science:

• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Surgical Technology
• Health Outcomes Research

Background:

• Robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) adoption is growing globally.
• Initial implementation of RAS in low-middle-income countries (LMICs) presents unique challenges and opportunities.
• The Versius robotic system offers a platform for expanding surgical capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the initial experience and outcomes of the first 100 cases of robotic-assisted surgery performed by a Department of General Surgery.
• To evaluate the safety and feasibility of RAS in a LMIC setting.
• To assess early postoperative outcomes, including complications, readmission, and mortality.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive study was conducted reviewing demographic and postoperative data of 100 patients.
• Data were prospectively collected from hospital and CMR databases.
• Key data points included patient demographics, diagnoses, operative details (console time), and 90-day postoperative outcomes (complications, readmission, mortality).

Main Results:

• The average patient age was 44.26 ± 14.08 years.
• Cholecystectomy was the most frequent procedure (78%).
• Minimal blood loss (<100ml) was observed in all but one patient, with no postoperative complications, readmissions, or mortality.

Conclusions:

• Robotic-assisted surgery is safe and feasible in LMICs with appropriate patient selection.
• The initial experience demonstrates positive early outcomes, supporting the integration of RAS technology.
• This study provides valuable data for centers considering RAS implementation in resource-limited settings.