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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
Robotics in Surgery: A Modular Robotic Platform Driven Gastric Wedge Resection
Published on: February 7, 2025
The benefit of robotic gastrectomy in minimally invasive surgery for elderly patients: a propensity score-matched
Koichi Jinushi1, Takuro Saito2,3,4, Kaoru Fujikawa1
1Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871, Osaka, Japan.
Purposes:
Robotic gastrectomy (RG) offers superior dexterity and visualization compared with laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG). However, its high cost requires careful patient selection. This study aimed to evaluate whether these advantages provide clinical benefits for elderly patients who are vulnerable to surgical stress.
Methods:
This retrospective study included 656 patients with gastric or esophagogastric junction cancer who underwent R0 RG or LG. The patients were stratified into elderly (≥ 75 years, n = 300) and non-elderly (< 75 years, n = 356). Propensity score matching was performed within each group to adjust baseline differences, and the outcomes were compared.
Results:
In elderly patients, RG caused fewer postoperative complications (grade ≥ III) (3.0% vs. 11.0%, P = 0.03) and lower postoperative C-reactive protein (P = 0.03) and drain amylase levels (P = 0.02). In non-elderly patients, RG led to lower drain amylase levels (P = 0.002). However, the complication rates did not differ significantly (3.8% vs. 7.6%, P = 0.29). No significant differences in the recurrence-free survival or overall survival were observed.
Conclusions:
RG may reduce postoperative complications in elderly patients, thus supporting a potential benefit in this population.