Robotic-assisted bariatric surgery: a systematic review

Background: Bariatric laparoscopic surgery has been shown to lead to sustainable weight-loss in obese individuals. Robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery is proposed as the next major evolution in minimally invasive surgery. This study systematically reviews the literature regarding the feasibility and safety of robotic-assisted bariatric surgery in obese patients.

Methods: A comprehensive search of electronic databases was completed for the period 2003 to 2010. Two independent reviewers assessed the studies for relevance, inclusion, and extracted data.

Results: After an initial screen of 297 titles, 22 studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 1253 patients with a mean preoperative body mass index of 46.6 kg/m(2) were obtained from 13 included studies. Major complications of malabsorptive procedures included eight anastomotic leaks (2.4%), bleeding (7/349 patients = 2%) and strictures/stenosis (13/430 patients = 3%). There were no reported deaths.

Conclusions: This systematic review demonstrates that robotic-assisted bariatric surgery is both a safe and feasible option for severely obese patients.