• P P Bianchi, C Ceriani, A Locatelli, G Spinoglio, M G Zampino, A Sonzogni, C Crosta, and B Andreoni.
• Unit of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Division of General and Laparoscopic Surgery, European Institute of Oncology, University of Milan, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milano, Italy. paolo.bianchi@ieo.it
• Surg Endosc. 2010 Nov 1; 24 (11): 2888-94.

BackgroundWe assessed feasibility, short-term oncologic safety, and short-term outcomes in robotic total mesorectal excision (R-TME) for rectal cancer compared with laparoscopic TME.MethodsFrom March 2008 to June 2009, 50 patients with proven middle/lower rectal adenocarcinoma underwent minimally invasive TME; 25 received R-TME. The groups were balanced (R-TME versus L-TME) in terms of age (median 69 versus 62 years; p = 0.8), disease stage, and body mass index (median 23 versus 26.5 kg/m(2); p = 0.06). There were 37 (74%) anterior resections and 13 (26%) abdominoperineal resections. Twenty-three (46%) patients received preoperative radiochemotherapy. The robot was a four-arm Da Vinci S (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA).ResultsMedian operating time (R-TME versus L-TME) was 240 versus 237 min (p = 0.2); first bowel movement was 2 versus 3 days (p = 0.5); median hospital stay was 6.5 versus 6 days (p = 0.4). Major complications with reoperation were two in R-TME (one anastomotic leakage, one small bowel perforation) and three in L-TME (one colonic ischemia, two anastomotic leakage). Postoperative complications were 16% versus 24% (p = 0.5). A median of 18 versus 17 (p = 0.7) lymph nodes were retrieved; distal resection margins were disease free in both groups; circumferential margin was involved (<1.0 mm) in one (4%) of L-TME. There were 0 versus 1 (5%) conversions to laparotomy.ConclusionsR-TME in rectal cancer is feasible, with short-term oncologic and other outcomes similar to those of L-TME. The greater maneuverability and visibility afforded by the robotic approach are attractive. Future studies should more systematically address advantages and costs of R-TME.

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