How robotic platforms are revolutionizing colorectal surgery techniques: a comparative review

In the last two decades, robotic technology has fundamentally transformed the field of colorectal surgery by providing surgeons with unprecedented levels of precision and control. Nevertheless, robotic surgery presents certain challenges such as prolonged operating times, high costs, limited accessibility, and the necessity for specialized training.

This comparative review analyzes the impact of robotic platforms on colorectal surgery and its outcomes, with the expanding market of this technology. The major databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholars were searched using the key term 'robotic assisted surgery,' 'robotic platforms,' and 'colorectal surgery' to identify relevant articles as of August 2024. The most utilized robotic platforms currently available on the market - Da Vinci, Versius, Senhance, and Revo-I - are compared through their peri- and post-operative outcomes, including operative duration, blood loss, hospitalization period, oncological outcomes, and cost, providing a comprehensive insight into the future of robotic-assisted colorectal surgery.

Robotic surgery significantly improves patient outcomes, including shorter postoperative recovery times and effective cancer resection margins. However, challenges faced with these platforms include longer intraoperative times, arm clashing, the need for bedside assistance, and cost. Nevertheless, with the evolution toward managing more complex rectal cancer cases and more challenging dissection planes, the need for robotic platforms will only grow.