Single-center experience with robotic colorectal surgery for benign indications.

Area of Science:

• Colorectal Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Robotic Surgery

Background:

• Robotic colorectal surgery is established for malignant conditions.
• Evidence for its use in benign disease is limited.
• This study focuses on perioperative outcomes for benign indications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe perioperative outcomes of robotic colorectal resections.
• To assess the safety of robotic colorectal surgery for benign conditions.
• To establish a UK evidence base for robotic colorectal surgery.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 403 consecutive robotic colorectal resections (February 2020-November 2025).
• Cases stratified into malignant (n=332) and benign (n=71) indications.
• Benign cases subclassified into diverticular disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and other.

Main Results:

• Benign patients were younger and had higher rates of prior abdominal surgery.
• Overall median operative time was 240 min, median length of stay (LOS) was 5 days, and Clavien-Dindo (CD) Grade III-IV rate was 9.2%.
• Benign cases had higher conversion rates (15.5% vs 6.9%) but equivalent complication rates, operative time, and LOS compared to malignant cases.

Conclusions:

• Robotic colorectal surgery is safe and reproducible for both malignant and benign indications.
• Higher conversion rates in benign cases were linked to patient factors and complexity, not platform limitations.
• Findings support expanding robotic surgery for benign colorectal conditions.