REVIEW   

Chirurgia 2021 February;34(1):30-6

DOI: 10.23736/S0394-9508.19.04963-5

Copyright © 2019 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Robotic colorectal surgery checkpoint: a review of cited articles during the last year

Martina TRAFELI ✉, Caterina FOPPA, Paolo MONTANELLI, Tommaso NELLI, Fabio STADERINI, Benedetta BADII, Ileana SKALAMERA, Fabio CIANCHI, Francesco CORATTI

Unit of Digestive Surgery, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University Hospital of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

INTRODUCTION: The article’s citations were a criterion to evaluate its quality and its contribution to the scientific environment. The aim of the study was to research cited articles about colorectal robotic surgery during the period from January 2017 to July 2018 to identify the critical issues and the most discussed topics in this field.
EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A research of cited articles on robotic colorectal surgery during the period from January 2017 to July 2018 was performed. A reviewer conducted a search on Google Scholar using the key words “robotic surgery,” “general surgery,” “colon,” “colorectal,” “rectum.”
EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Sixty-nine articles were found, 48 published in 2017 and 21 in the first 7 months of 2018. The research showed that most frequent topics were comparison of outcomes and pathology data between robotic, laparoscopic and open approaches, outcomes of robotic-assisted colorectal surgery, new instruments, accessories and new approaches in minimally invasive surgery, robotic learning curve and costs.
CONCLUSIONS: Robotic colorectal surgery is safe and feasible also in elderly patients. It allows oncologically good resections and autonomic outcomes. One of the most discussed aspect were costs, but the literature showed decreased length of stay, complications and readmission rates that could justify a more expensive technique.

KEY WORDS: General surgery; Robotic surgical procedures; Colorectal surgery; Colon; Rectum