ObjectiveTo compare oncologic and short-term outcomes between the robotic and laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study using a prospectively collected database. Patients’ records were obtained from Gansu Provincial Hospital between July 2015 and October 2017. Eighty patients underwent robotic-assisted total mesorectal excision (R-TME group) and one hundred and sixteen with the same histopathological stage of the tumor underwent an laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (L-TME group). Both operations were performed by the same surgeon. Results The time to the first passage of flatus ［(3.28±1.64) d vs. (6.01±2.77) d, P<0.001］, the time to the first postoperative oral fluid intake ［(4.46±1.62) d vs. (6.28±2.74) d, P<0.001） and the length of hospital stay ［（11.20±5.80）d vs. (14.72±6.90) d, P=0.023］ of the R-TME group was about 3 days faster than the L-TME group. The incidence of postoperative urinary retention (2.50% vs 7.76%, P=0.016) was significantly lower in the R-TME group than the L-TME group. However, the intraoperative blood loss of the R-TME group was more than the L-TME group ［(175.06±110.77) mL vs. (123.91±99.61) mL, P=0.031, ）. The operative time, number of lymph nodes harvested and distal margin were similar intergroup（P>0.05）. The total cost was higher in the R-TME than in the L-TME group ［(85 623.91±13 310.50) CNY vs. (67 356.79±17 107.68) CNY, P=0.084), however, this difference was statistically insignificant. ConclusionsCompared with the L-TME, the R-TME has the same oncologic outcomes and rapid postoperative short-term recovery. However, the long-term outcome of the R-TME remains to be further observed.
ObjectiveTo summarize the application status and related progress of robot-assisted technology in general surgery.MethodThe related researches about robot-assisted technology in general surgery in recent year were searched and reviewed.ResultsRobot-assisted techniques had similar safety and effectiveness to endoscopic surgery in general surgery. In addition, in rectal cancer, thyroid and pancreatic surgery, due to the narrow operation space, the advantages of robot-assisted surgery was more obvious.ConclusionsThe application of robot-assisted techniques in general surgery is safe and effective. With the decrease of the cost of robotic surgery, which has wide application value in general surgery.