Surgical Technique of Robotic Distal Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer Using the Hinotori Surgical System

The da Vinci Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical) currently dominates robotic gastrectomy for gastric cancer. The hinotori Surgical Robot System (Medicaroid Corporation) is a newly developed, Japan-made surgical assist robot. This study aimed to introduce the initial experience of robotic gastrectomy using the hinotori and discuss key techniques and challenges.

This single-center retrospective study involved 10 eligible patients who underwent curative robotic distal gastrectomy using the hinotori for primary Stage I to III gastric cancer. Short-term surgical outcomes were evaluated. Lymph node dissection was mainly performed using the conventional double bipolar technique, left-handed double bipolar technique, or laparoscopic coagulation shears from the assist port.

No patients developed intraoperative complications, and all procedures were successfully completed without conversion to open or laparoscopic surgery. All patients achieved R0 resection. The median operation time was 275 minutes (range, 252 to 336 min), and the estimated blood loss was 5 mL (range, 3 to 20 mL). The drain amylase content on postoperative day 1 was 220.5 IU/L (range, 66 to 1207 IU/L). The median number of retrieved lymph nodes was 29.5 (range, 11 to 58). No patients developed postoperative Clavien-Dindo grade ≥IIIa complications, and there was no mortality.

Robotic gastrectomy using the hinotori shows potential benefits for gastric cancer. Further studies are needed to validate these advantages.