Robotic-assisted surgery for acute abdominal emergencies: a systematic review of 1142 cases

This comprehensive systematic review assesses the clinical outcomes of robotic-assisted procedures for acute abdominal emergencies, analyzing data from 27 studies comprising 1142 cases. The investigation specifically examines five critical emergency conditions: complicated appendicitis (representing 32.5% of cases), acute cholecystitis (28.7%), small bowel obstruction (15.2%), perforated peptic ulcers (9.8%), and acute diverticulitis (7.4%). Analysis reveals robotic procedures averaged 152 min (± 38) in duration, with an overall conversion rate of 9.1%. Complication rates showed no significant difference from laparoscopic methods (13.2% versus 14.7%, p = 0.21). The data highlight two significant robotic advantages: improved intraoperative hemostasis (85 mL versus 120 mL average blood loss, p = 0.03) and lower conversion rates among obese patients (11.3% versus 18.6%, p = 0.04). These findings indicate that robotic systems may provide distinct technical benefits for specific emergency scenarios while delivering safety outcomes equivalent to traditional minimally invasive surgery.