Robotic versus laparoscopic intersphincteric resection for patients with low rectal cancer: Short-term outcomes

Wei Ge; Li-Hua Shao; Yu-Dong Qiu; Gang Chen

doi:10.4103/jmas.jmas_320_23

Robotic versus laparoscopic intersphincteric resection for patients with low rectal cancer: Short-term outcomes

J Minim Access Surg. 2024 Dec 24. doi: 10.4103/jmas.jmas_320_23. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Wei Ge^{1

2}, Li-Hua Shao^{1

2}, Yu-Dong Qiu^{1

2}, Gang Chen^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
² Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.

PMID: 39718939
DOI: 10.4103/jmas.jmas_320_23

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the short-term outcomes between laparoscopic intersphincteric resection (L-ISR) and robotic intersphincteric resection (R-ISR) for low rectal cancer.

Patients and methods: We performed a retrospective clinical analysis between August 2018 and August 2021 at the Department Of General Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School.

Results: A total of 28 patients were recruited in this research. Among these patients, there were 12 patients who underwent L-ISR and assigned to L-ISR group, and the remaining 16 patients underwent R-ISR and assigned to R-ISR group. The time to start oral fluids, time to start soft diet and time to first motion in R-ISR group were earlier than those in L-ISR group (P < 0.05). The hospital stay in R-ISR group was shorter than that in L-ISR group (P < 0.05). However, the operation time of R-ISR was longer compared to L-ISR group (P < 0.05). Most important of all, the Kelly score in R-ISR group was 5.1 ± 0.9, which was higher than that in L-ISR group (P = 0.004).

Conclusion: R-ISR is safe and feasible for patients with low rectal cancer. R-ISR is superior to L-ISR despite the operation time of R-ISR is longer. A randomised controlled trial will be performed to confirm the conclusion further.