Influence of BMI on robotic rectal cancer surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Obesity presents a significant public health challenge, known to escalate the risk of colorectal cancer twofold. The potential advantages of employing robotic technology in colorectal surgery for obese individuals remain mostly unexplored. A comprehensive search of articles retrieved from Scopus, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library for the duration of January 2014 to March 2024 was performed, without language limitations. Meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The study compared results of robotic rectal cancer resections in obese patients (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) with those in non-obese counterparts. Out of 2410 full-text articles studied, 7 met the inclusion criteria and underwent final analysis. The study included 963 non-obese and 371 obese patients. Operative time produce significant variance in non-obese patients. However, DRM, CRM, HLN, length of hospital stays, conversion rate, and overall complications did not show any statistically significant differences. Robotic surgery for rectal cancer had no clinically significant influence in obese group patients, and postoperative complications are same as in non-obese group except duration of surgery.