Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2025
Robot-assisted Total Mesorectal Excision and Lateral Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection for Locally Advanced Middle-low Rectal Cancer
Published on: February 12, 2022
The Combination of Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery: First Experience with the Dexter Robotic System™ in Visceral
Pernilla Virginia Conrad1, Anne-Sophie Mehdorn1, Ibrahim Alkatout2
1Department of General, Visceral, Thoracic, Transplantation and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
Introduction:
For over two decades, abdominal surgical procedures have been safely performed robotically. After the first patent expiration, alternative robotic systems entered the market. The Dexter Robotic System™ is a small-format, modular, and robotic platform consisting of a surgeon's console, two patient carts with instrument arms, and one endoscope arm. We report our initial experiences with Dexter since its installation at our visceral surgery department.
Methods:
The system and surgical setup are described. Demographic and perioperative data of all operated patients as well as the system docking times were analyzed.
Results:
From 56 procedures performed with Dexter, the most common ones included cholecystectomy (n = 15), inguinal hernia repair (TAPP; unilateral n = 15; bilateral n = 3), and right oncologic hemicolectomy (n = 15). The median docking time was 6 min (2-16 min) and was reduced to 4 min in the last tertile of procedures performed.
Conclusions:
In our experience, Dexter can be implemented without any major challenges, and visceral surgical procedures of simple to medium complexity can be performed safely. The simplicity and accessibility of the system along with the ease of switching between robotics and laparoscopy could be particularly suitable for beginners in robotic surgery.
