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Objectives: To evaluate the association between surgical modality (RARC vs. ORC) and the risk of 30-day complications., Materials and Methods: We utilized the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) Cystectomy-Targeted database from 2019 to 2021. The primary outcome was a composite of major complications including 30-day mortality, reoperation, cardiac events, and stroke. Secondary outcomes included individual major and cystectomy-specific complications. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to minimize inherent differences within our cohort. We performed logistic regression to assess the association between outcomes of interest and operative modality., Results: We found no difference between operative modality and the primary outcome, however, RARC was associated with a 70% lower risk of 30-day mortality (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.13-0.70) and had favorable outcomes with respect to respiratory, deep venous thrombosis, wound complications, and length of stay. Limitations are related to residual confounding given the observational methodology., Conclusions: RARC was associated with reduced risk of multiple 30-day complications, including mortality, as well as organ system and cystectomy-specific outcomes. These data support the clinical benefit of increased adoption of RARC., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We declare that all the authors have no declarations and no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: It is unclear whether conversion from minimally invasive surgery to laparotomy in patients with colon cancer contributes to worse outcomes compared with those operated by laparotomy. In this study, we aimed to assess the implications of transitioning from minimally invasive surgery to laparotomy in patients with colon cancer compared with patients undergoing upfront laparotomy., Methods: A retrospective analysis of the National Cancer Database, including patients with stages I to III colon cancer (2010-2019). Patients who underwent either upfront laparotomy (Open Surgery Group) or minimally invasive surgery converted to open surgery (Converted Surgery Group) were included. Groups were balanced using propensity-score matching. Primary outcome was overall survival, and secondary outcomes included 30- and 90-day mortality and 30-day readmission rates., Results: The study included 65,083 operated patients with stage I to III colon cancer; 57,091 patients (87.7%) were included in the Open Surgery group and 7,992 (12.3%) in the Converted Surgery group. 93.5% were converted from laparoscopy, and 6.5% were converted from robotic surgery. After propensity-score matching, 7,058 patients were included in each group. Median overall survival was significantly higher in the Converted Surgery group (107.3 months) than in the Open Surgery group (101.5 months; P = .006). A survival benefit was seen in patients >65 years of age (79.5 vs 71.9 months; P = .001), left-sided disease (129.4 vs 114.5 months; P < .001), and with a high Charlson comorbidity index score (=3; 58.9 vs 42.3 months; P = .03). Positive margin rates were similar between the groups (6.3% vs 5.6%; P = .07). Converted patients had a higher 30-day readmission rate (6.7% vs 5.6%, P = .006) and shorter duration of stay (median, 5 vs 6 days, P < .001) than patients in the Open Surgery group. In addition, 30-day mortality was comparable between the groups (2.9% vs 3.5%; P = .07)., Conclusion: Conversion to open surgery from minimally invasive surgery was associated with better overall survival compared with upfront open surgery. A survival benefit was mainly seen in patients >65 years of age, with significant comorbidities, and with left-sided tumors. We believe these data suggest that, in the absence of an absolute contraindication to minimally invasive surgery, it should be the preferred approach in patients with colon cancer., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Robotic gastrectomy is a safe and feasible approach for gastric cancer (GC); however, its long-term oncological efficacy remains unclear. The authors evaluated the long-term survival outcomes and recurrence patterns of patients with locally advanced proximal GC who underwent robotic total gastrectomy (RTG)., Methods: This prospective study (FUGES-014 study) enrolled 48 patients with locally advanced proximal GC who underwent RTG between March 2018 and February 2020 at a tertiary referral teaching hospital. Patients who underwent laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) in the FUGES-002 study were enrolled in a 2:1 ratio to compare the survival outcomes between RTG and LTG. The primary endpoint of the FUGES-014 study was postoperative 30-day morbidity and has been previously reported. Here, the authors reported the results of 3-year disease-free survival (DFS), 3-year overall survival (OS), and recurrence patterns., Results: After propensity score matching, 48 patients in the RTG and 96 patients in the LTG groups were included. The 3-year DFS rates were 77.1% (95% CI: 66.1-89.9%) for the RTG and 68.8% (95% CI: 60.1-78.7%) for the LTG groups ( P =0.261). The 3-year OS rates were not significantly different between the groups (85.4 vs. 74.0%, P =0.122). Recurrence occurred in nine patients (18.8%) in the RTG and 27 (28.1%) patients in the LTG groups ( P =0.234). Recurrence patterns and causes of death were similar between the groups ( P >0.05)., Conclusions: The oncological outcome of RTG was noninferior to that of LTG. Thus, RTG might be an alternative surgical treatment for locally advanced proximal GC., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background and Objectives: We aimed to describe our outcomes of robotic resection for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, the largest single institutional series in the Western hemisphere to date., Methods: Between 2016 and 2022, we prospectively followed all patients who underwent robotic resection for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma., Results: In total, 23 patients underwent robotic resection for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, 18 receiving concomitant hepatectomy. The median age was 73 years. Operative time was 470 min with an estimated blood loss of 150 mL. No intraoperative conversions to open or other intraoperative complications occurred. Median length of stay was 5 days. Four postoperative complications occurred. Three readmissions occurred within 30 days with one 90-day mortality. R0 resection was achieved in 87% of patients and R1 in 13% of patients. At a median follow-up of 27 months, 15 patients were alive without evidence of disease, two patients with local recurrence at 1 year, and six were deceased., Conclusions: Utilization of the robotic platform for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma is safe and feasible with excellent perioperative outcomes. Further studies are needed to determine the long-term oncological outcomes., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Introduction: Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is a rare disease accounting only for 5%-10% of urothelial carcinoma (UC). For localized high-risk disease, radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) is the standard of care. While minimally invasive (MIS) RNU has not been shown to decisively improve overall survival (OS) compared to open surgery, MIS RNU has been associated with reduced hospital length of stay (LOS), blood transfusion requirements and improved recovery, which are important considerations when treating older patients. The purpose of this study is to examine trends in surgical approach selection and outcomes of open vs. MIS RNU in patients aged ≥80 years., Methods: Using the National Cancer Database (NCDB), patients aged ≥80 years who underwent open or MIS (either robotic or laparoscopic) RNU were identified from 2010 to 2019. Demographic, patient-related, and disease-specific factors associated with either open or MIS RNU were assessed using multivariate logistic regression models. Survival analysis was conducted using Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox-proportional hazard regression. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was utilized to adjust for confounding variables. Survival analysis was also conducted on the IPTW adjusted cohort using Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox-proportional hazard regression., Results: 5,687 patients were identified, with 1,431 (25.2%) and 4,256 (74.8%) patients undergoing open and MIS RNU respectively. The proportion of RNU performed robotically has increased from 12.5% in 2010 to 50.4% in 2019. MIS was associated with a shorter hospital LOS (4.7 days versus 5.9 days, SMD 23.7%). Multivariate analysis revealed that MIS was associated with a significant reduction in 90-day mortality (OR: 0.571; 95%CI: 0.34-0.96, P = 0.033) and improved median OS (53.8 months [95%CI: 50.9-56.9] vs 42.35 months [95%CI: 38.6-46.8], P < 0.001) compared to open surgery. IPTW-adjusted survival analysis revealed improved median OS with MIS when compared to open surgery, with a survival benefit of 46.1 months (95%CI: 40.2-52.4 months) versus 37.7 months (95%CI: 32.6-46.5 months, P = 0.0034) respectively. IPTW-adjusted cox proportional hazard analysis demonstrated that MIS was significantly associated with reduced mortality (HR 0.76, 95%CI: 0.66-0.87, P < 0.001)., Conclusion: In octogenarians undergoing RNU, MIS is associated with improved median OS and 90-day mortality., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: International guidelines recommend monitoring the use and outcome of minimally invasive pancreatic surgery (MIPS). However, data from prospective international audits on minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (MIDP) are lacking. This study examined the use and outcome of robot-assisted (RDP) and laparoscopic (LDP) distal pancreatectomy in the E-MIPS registry., Patients and Methods: Post-hoc analysis in a prospective audit on MIPS, including consecutive patients undergoing MIDP in 83 centers from 19 European countries (01-01-2019/31-12-2021). Primary outcomes included intraoperative events (grade 1: excessive blood loss, grade 2: conversion/change in operation, grade 3: intraoperative death), major morbidity, and in-hospital/30-day mortality. Multivariable logistic regression analyses identified high-risk groups for intraoperative events. RDP and LDP were compared in the total cohort and high-risk groups., Results: Overall, 1672 patients undergoing MIDP were included; 606 (36.2%) RDP and 1066 (63.8%) LDP. The annual use of RDP increased from 30.5% to 42.6% ( P <0.001). RDP was associated with fewer grade 2 intraoperative events compared with LDP (9.6% vs. 16.8%, P <0.001), with longer operating time (238 vs. 201 min, P <0.001). No significant differences were observed between RDP and LDP regarding major morbidity (23.4% vs. 25.9%, P =0.264) and in-hospital/30-day mortality (0.3% vs. 0.8%, P =0.344). Three high-risk groups were identified; BMI greater than 25 kg/m 2 , previous abdominal surgery, and vascular involvement. In each group, RDP was associated with fewer conversions and longer operative times., Conclusion: This European registry-based study demonstrated favorable outcomes for MIDP, with mortality rates below 1%. LDP remains the predominant approach, whereas the use of RDP is increasing. RDP was associated with fewer conversions and longer operative time, including in high-risk subgroups. Future randomized trials should confirm these findings and assess cost differences., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: International multicenter audit-based studies focusing on the outcome of minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy (MIPD) are lacking. The European Registry for Minimally Invasive Pancreatic Surgery (E-MIPS) is the E-AHPBA endorsed registry aimed to monitor and safeguard the introduction of MIPD in Europe., Materials and Methods: A planned analysis of outcomes among consecutive patients after MIPD from 45 centers in 14 European countries in the E-MIPS registry (2019-2021). The main outcomes of interest were major morbidity (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥3) and 30-day/in-hospital mortality., Results: Overall, 1336 patients after MIPD were included [835 robot-assisted (R-MIPD) and 501 laparoscopic MIPD (L-MIPD)]. Overall, 20 centers performed R-MIPD, 15 centers L-MIPD, and 10 centers both. Between 2019 and 2021, the rate of centers performing L-MIPD decreased from 46.9 to 25%, whereas for R-MIPD this increased from 46.9 to 65.6%. Overall, the rate of major morbidity was 41.2%, 30-day/in-hospital mortality 4.5%, conversion rate 9.7%, postoperative pancreatic fistula grade B/C 22.7%, and postpancreatectomy hemorrhage grade B/C 10.8%. Median length of hospital stay was 12 days (IQR 8-21). A lower rate of major morbidity, postoperative pancreatic fistula grade B/C, postpancreatectomy hemorrhage grade B/C, delayed gastric emptying grade B/C, percutaneous drainage, and readmission was found after L-MIPD. The number of centers meeting the Miami Guidelines volume cut-off of ≥20 MIPDs annually increased from 9 (28.1%) in 2019 to 12 (37.5%) in 2021 ( P =0.424). Rates of conversion (7.4 vs. 14.8% P <0.001) and reoperation (8.9 vs. 15.1% P <0.001) were lower in centers, which fulfilled the Miami volume cut-off., Conclusion: During the first 3 years of the pan-European E-MIPS registry, morbidity and mortality rates after MIPD were acceptable. A shift is ongoing from L-MIPD to R-MIPD. Variations in outcomes between the two minimally invasive approaches and the impact of the volume cut-off should be further evaluated over a longer time period., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Importance: Robot-assisted radical cystectomy is being performed with increasing frequency, but it is unclear whether total intracorporeal surgery improves recovery compared with open radical cystectomy for bladder cancer., Objectives: To compare recovery and morbidity after robot-assisted radical cystectomy with intracorporeal reconstruction vs open radical cystectomy., Design, Setting, and Participants: Randomized clinical trial of patients with nonmetastatic bladder cancer recruited at 9 sites in the UK, from March 2017-March 2020. Follow-up was conducted at 90 days, 6 months, and 12 months, with final follow-up on September 23, 2021., Interventions: Participants were randomized to receive robot-assisted radical cystectomy with intracorporeal reconstruction (n = 169) or open radical cystectomy (n = 169)., Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the number of days alive and out of the hospital within 90 days of surgery. There were 20 secondary outcomes, including complications, quality of life, disability, stamina, activity levels, and survival. Analyses were adjusted for the type of diversion and center., Results: Among 338 randomized participants, 317 underwent radical cystectomy (mean age, 69 years; 67 women [21%]; 107 [34%] received neoadjuvant chemotherapy; 282 [89%] underwent ileal conduit reconstruction); the primary outcome was analyzed in 305 (96%). The median number of days alive and out of the hospital within 90 days of surgery was 82 (IQR, 76-84) for patients undergoing robotic surgery vs 80 (IQR, 72-83) for open surgery (adjusted difference, 2.2 days [95% CI, 0.50-3.85]; P = .01). Thromboembolic complications (1.9% vs 8.3%; difference, -6.5% [95% CI, -11.4% to -1.4%]) and wound complications (5.6% vs 16.0%; difference, -11.7% [95% CI, -18.6% to -4.6%]) were less common with robotic surgery than open surgery. Participants undergoing open surgery reported worse quality of life vs robotic surgery at 5 weeks (difference in mean European Quality of Life 5-Dimension, 5-Level instrument scores, -0.07 [95% CI, -0.11 to -0.03]; P = .003) and greater disability at 5 weeks (difference in World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 scores, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.15-0.73]; P = .003) and at 12 weeks (difference in WHODAS 2.0 scores, 0.38 [95% CI, 0.09-0.68]; P = .01); the differences were not significant after 12 weeks. There were no statistically significant differences in cancer recurrence (29/161 [18%] vs 25/156 [16%] after robotic and open surgery, respectively) and overall mortality (23/161 [14.3%] vs 23/156 [14.7%]), respectively) at median follow-up of 18.4 months (IQR, 12.8-21.1)., Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients with nonmetastatic bladder cancer undergoing radical cystectomy, treatment with robot-assisted radical cystectomy with intracorporeal urinary diversion vs open radical cystectomy resulted in a statistically significant increase in days alive and out of the hospital over 90 days. However, the clinical importance of these findings remains uncertain., Trial Registration: ISRCTN Identifier: ISRCTN13680280; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03049410.

Surgical care for early stage non-small-cell lung cancer continuously evolves with new procedures, techniques and care pathways. The most obvious recent change was the transition to minimally invasive procedures, but numerous other aspects of care have also been refined to improve safety and tolerability. These care advancements are essential as we move into an era with increased early detection as a result of screening and greater indications for the use of adjuvant and neoadjuvant strategies., Competing Interests: Jessica DoningtonHonoraria: AstraZeneca, BMS, Roche/GenentechConsulting or Advisory Role: AstraZeneca, BMS, Roche/Genentech Lana SchumacherHonoraria: AstraZenecaConsulting or Advisory Role: Intuitive SurgicalSpeakers' Bureau: Olympus Medical SystemsResearch Funding: Intuitive SurgicalNo other potential conflicts of interest were reported.

Background: Both microwave ablation and robot-assisted hepatectomy are representative minimally invasive treatments for early hepatocellular carcinoma. Our study compares the practicability and medium-term therapeutic efficacy between them., Methods: Patients with early HCC treated by MWA or RH from 2013 to 2019 were included. Propensity score matching (PSM) and inverse probability of treatment weight (IPTW) were used to minimize baseline imbalance. Operation trauma, postoperative recovery, complications, cost and oncological efficacy were compared., Results: 401 patients with a median follow-up of 28 months were included (MWA n = 240; RH n = 161). After PSM, 3-year recurrence-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) of MWA group and RH group were 52.2% vs 65.8%, 91.5% vs 91.3% and 91.5% vs 91.3%, respectively. OS and CSS were comparable (p = 0.44 and 0.96), while RFS of MWA was slightly lower but not significant (p = 0.097). The above results after IPTW followed the same trend. After PSM, MWA showed advantages in operation time and blood loss, while RH performed better in postoperative liver function. There was no significant difference in incidence of severe complications between two groups., Conclusions: For early HCC parents, both treatments can achieve good, safe and comparable medium-term therapeutic effects. MWA is more minimally invasive, while RH has better accuracy and causes less damage to liver parenchyma., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Purpose: Radical nephroureterectomy is the gold standard of treatment for high-risk non-metastatic urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract. However, the optimal surgical approach remains a controversial debate. This study compared the perioperative and oncological outcomes of open and robot-assisted radical nephroureterectomies., Methods: 131 consecutive radical nephroureterectomies (66 robot-assisted nephroureterectomies vs. 65 open nephroureterectomies) for urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract at a single tertiary referral center were included from 2009 to 2019. The perioperative and oncological outcomes were compared between both surgical approaches, including logistic regression analysis, propensity score matching, Kaplan Meier analyses, and Cox regression models., Results: Overall, robot-assisted surgery had less blood loss (150 ml vs. 250, p = 0.004) and less positive surgical margins (1.5% vs. 15.4%, p = 0.004) at a comparable operating time (robotic 188min vs. 178). Any grade complications were more frequent after open surgery (40.9% vs. 63.1%, p = 0.011), and the length of stay was shorter after robotic nephroureterectomy (9 days vs. 12, p < 0.001). These differences remained significant in the propensity score matched analysis, except for the complication rates, which were still lower for the robotic approach, but no longer significant. At a median follow-up of 30.9 months (range 1.4-129.5), neither the progression-free survival (PFS, 2-year: robotic 66.7% vs. open 55.3%), nor the overall survival differed significantly (OS, 2-year: robotic 76.2% vs. open 68.4%). In the Cox regression, the surgical approach did not impact the PFS or OS. Lymph node metastases (HR 3.32, p = 0.008) had the strongest impact on the PFS besides patient age (HR 1.51 per 10 years, p = 0.025) and prior cystectomy (HR 2.42, p = 0.026) in the multivariate analysis., Conclusions: Robot-assisted radical nephroureterectomy had significant perioperative advantages at comparable oncological outcomes compared to open surgery for the treatment of urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract at a high volume center, experienced in robotic surgery., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: To compare the effect of robot-assisted (RAPN) vs. open (OPN) partial nephrectomy on short-term postoperative outcomes and total hospital charges in frail patients with non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC)., Methods: Within the National Inpatient Sample database we identified 2745 RCC patients treated with either RAPN or OPN between 2008 and 2015, who met the Johns Hopkins Adjusted Clinical Groups frailty-defining indicator criteria. We examined the rates of RAPN vs. OPN over time. Moreover, we compared the effect of RAPN vs. OPN on short-term postoperative outcomes and total hospital charges. Time trends and multivariable logistic, Poisson and linear regression models were applied., Results: Overall, 1109 (40.4%) frail patients were treated with RAPN. Rates of RAPN increased over time, from 16.3% to 54.7% (p < 0.001). Frail RAPN patients exhibited lower rates (all p < 0.001) of overall complications (35.3 vs. 48.3%), major complications (12.4 vs. 20.4%), blood transfusions (8.0 vs. 13.5%), non-home-based discharge (9.6 vs. 15.2%), shorter length of stay (3 vs. 4 days), but higher total hospital charges ($50,060 vs. $45,699). Moreover, RAPN independently predicted (all p < 0.001) lower risk of overall complications (OR: 0.58), major complications (OR: 0.55), blood transfusions (OR: 0.60) and non-home-based discharge (OR: 0.51), as well as shorter LOS (RR: 0.77) but also higher total hospital charges (RR: +$7682), relative to OPN., Conclusions: In frail patients, RAPN is associated with lower rates of short-term postoperative complications, blood transfusions and non-home-based discharge, as well as with shorter LOS than OPN. However, RAPN use also results in higher total hospital charges., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background:  Robot technology is a revolutionary technique to overcome limitations of minimal invasive surgery. The proficiency level varies from study to study. We considered the first sleeve lobectomy as a benchmark procedure to evaluate the proficiency level., Methods:  We retrospectively analyzed 197 patients who underwent robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) for primary lung cancer between December 2011 and May 2018. Patients were divided into two groups based on undergoing surgery earlier period (EP) or later period (LP) than the first sleeve lobectomy by RATS (May 25, 2015). The preoperative, operative, and short- and long-term postoperative outcomes were compared. Seven-year survival was also compared between two periods for T1N0 and T2N0 diseases., Results:  Preoperative features were similar. The mean operative time was 166.8 ± 55.1 and 142.4 ± 43.9 minutes in EP and LP, respectively ( p  = 0.005). The mean number of dissected lymph nodes in LP was also significantly higher than that in EP (24.4 ± 9.4 vs. 20.8 ± 10.4, p  = 0.035). The complication rate was significantly lower in LP (29/86 vs. 25/111, p  = 0.048). The extended resection (ER) rate was significantly higher in LP ( p  = 0.023). The 7-year survival was comparable in EP and LP in both patients with T1N0 and T2N0 ( p  = 0.28 and p  = 0.11, respectively)., Conclusion:  Perioperative outcomes, such as duration of surgery, number of dissected lymph nodes, complications, and ERs are favorable in patients who underwent surgeries after the first sleeve resection. The first sleeve lobectomy may be considered as the benchmark procedure for the proficiency level in RATS., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to find the advantages of robotic natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) for middle and low rectal cancer, compared with traditional laparoscopic low anterior resection (LAR)., Methods: Patients receiving robotic NOSES or traditional laparoscopic LAR were retrospectively enrolled from 2013-10 to 2019-06, with middle and low rectal cancer, maximum diameter ≤ 5 cm, pT1-3 or ypT1-3 stage, no distant metastases. The baseline of the two groups was balanced using the propensity score matching method. Surgical quality, postoperative recovery, and long-term oncological outcomes were compared., Results: Totally 137 eligible patients with robotic NOSES and 137 matched patients with traditional laparoscopic LAR were enrolled. Robotic NOSES had a significantly lower open conversion rate (0 vs. 4.4%, p = .030), less intraoperative hemorrhage (50 ml vs. 80 ml, p < .001) and longer distance from distal resection margin of low rectal cancer (1.5 cm vs. 1.0 cm, p = .030). Robotic NOSES significantly reduced the 30-day postoperative complication rate of Clavien-Dindo grade II or higher (17.5% vs. 31.4%, p = .008), promoted gastrointestinal and urinary function recovery, reduced postoperative pain and hospital stay (6.0 vs. 7.0 d, p = .022). The two groups were similar in long-term survival., Conclusions: Compared with traditional laparoscopic LAR, robotic NOSES had significant advantages in improving surgical quality and promoting postoperative recovery., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background and Objectives: Robotic wedge resection for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) located in the stomach offers remarkable advantages, especially for lesions in unfavorable places. Although promising, long-term oncological results associated with this surgical procedure are poorly represented in literature. We present our experience of robotic wedge resection with gastrotomy for challenging gastric GISTs, in terms of both surgical outcomes and long-term oncological results. Methods: From April 2014 to February 2020, all consecutive patients affected by unfavorably located gastric GISTs (based on the Privette/Al-Thani classification system) underwent robotic wedge resection. Clinicopathological, surgical, and long-term oncological results were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Seventeen patients underwent full-thickness gastric wedge resection with primary robot-sewn closure of the defect. In 64.7% of cases, the lesion was ≥5 cm in diameter. No conversion nor tumor rupture were recorded and complete R0 resection was achieved in all cases. Median hospital stay was 5 days (range 3-18). At a median follow-up of 46 months (range 7-67), the disease-free survival rate and the overall survival rate were 94.1% and 82.3%, respectively. Conclusions: Robotic wedge resection with gastrotomy and robotic-sewn suture is a safe and feasible procedure for GISTs located in unfavorable anatomic positions, without compromising oncological outcomes.

Objectives: To evaluate the postoperative complication and mortality rate following laparoscopic radical cystectomy (RARC) with intracorporeal urinary diversion (ICUD) in octogenarians., Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis comparing postoperative complication and mortality rates depending on age in a consecutive series of 1890 patients who underwent RARC with ICUD for bladder cancer between 2004 and 2018 in 10 European centres. Outcomes of patients aged <80 years and those aged ≥80 years were compared with regard to postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grading) and mortality rate. Cancer-specific mortality (CSM) and other-cause mortality (OCM) after surgery were calculated using the non-parametric Aalen-Johansen estimator., Results: A total of 1726 patients aged <80 years and 164 aged ≥80 years were included in the analysis. The 30- and 90-day rate for high-grade (Clavien-Dindo grades III-V) complications were 15% and 21% for patients aged <80 years compared to 11% and 13% for patients aged ≥80 years (P = 0.2 and P = 0.03), respectively. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusting for pre- and postoperative variables, age ≥80 years was not an independent predictor of high-grade complications (odds ratio 0.6, 95% confidence interval 0.3-1.1; P = 0.12). The non-cancer-related 90-day mortality was 2.3% for patients aged ≥80 years and 1.8% for those aged <80 years, respectively (P = 0.7). The estimated 12-month CSM and OCM rates for those aged <80 years were 8% and 3%, and for those aged ≥80 years, 15% and 8%, respectively (P = 0.009 and P < 0.001)., Conclusions: The minimally invasive approach to RARC with ICUD for bladder cancer in well-selected elderly patients (aged ≥80 years) achieved a tolerable high-grade complication rate; the 90-day postoperative mortality rate was driven by cancer progression and the non-cancer-related rate was equivalent to that of patients aged <80 years. However, an increased OCM rate in this elderly group after the first year should be taken into account. These results will support clinicians and patients when balancing cancer-related vs treatment-related risks and benefits., (© 2020 The Authors BJU International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of BJU International.)

Abstract: Cervical cancer represents a general health issue spread all over the globe, which prompts the surge of scientific survey toward the rise of survival and condition of life of these patients. American and European guidelines suggest the open surgery, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery are the main therapeutic approaches for radical hysterectomy for patients with cervical cancer. This is the first survey to analyze the long-term oncological outcome of an extensive series of subjects cared for with multimodality treatment, here comprising robotic surgery.This study intents to evaluate the long-term oncological result in patients diagnosed with cervical cancer treated with radiotherapy (±chemotherapy) and robotic surgery compared with open surgery. Medical files of 56 patients diagnosed with cervical cancer who underwent a robotic hysterectomy and radiotherapy ± chemotherapy were retrospectively analyzed.The median age at diagnosis was 50.5 (range: 23-70). Eleven patients (19.6%) presented in an early stage (IB-IIA) and 80.4% advanced stage (IIB-IVA). Overall response rate after radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy was 96.2%. Pathologic complete response was obtained in 64% of patients. After a median follow-up of 60 months (range: 6-105 months), 8 patients (14.2%) presented local recurrence or distant metastases. Disease-free survival (DFS) was 92% at 2 years and 84% at 3 and 5 years. Overall survival (OS) rates at 2, 3, and 5 years for patients with robotic surgery were 91%, 78%, and 73%, median OS not reached. OS was lower in the arm of open surgery (2, 3, and 5 years 87%, 71%, and 61%, respectively; median OS was 72 months P = .054). The multivariate analysis regarding the outcome of patients revealed an advantage for complete versus partial response (P < .002), for early versus advanced stages (P = .014) and a 10% gained in DFS at 3 years for patients in whom chemoradiotherapy was administered (DFS at 3 years 75% vs 85%) in patients with advanced stages.Robotic surgery has a favorable oncological outcome when associated with multimodal therapy., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: The robotic technique has been established as an alternative approach to laparoscopy for colorectal surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the short-term outcomes of robot-assisted and laparoscopic surgery in colorectal cancer., Methods: The cases of robot-assisted or laparoscopic colorectal resection were collected retrospectively between July 2015 and September 2018. We evaluated patient demographics, perioperative characteristics, and pathologic examinations. Short-term outcomes included time to passage of flatus and length of postoperative hospital stay., Results: A total of 580 patients were included in the study. There were 271 patients in the robotic colorectal surgery (RCS) group and 309 in the laparoscopic colorectal surgery (LCS) group. The time to passage of flatus in the RCS group was 3.62 days shorter than the LCS group. The total costs were increased by 2,258.8 USD in the RCS group compared to the LCS group (P < 0.001)., Conclusion: The present study suggests that colorectal cancer robotic surgery was more beneficial to patients because of a shorter postoperative recovery time of bowel function and shorter hospital stays., Competing Interests: None

Robotic prostatectomy is the most commonly performed robotic procedure in the United States. Increasing utilization of this procedure necessitates characterization of robot malfunctions and associated patient injuries. We performed a review of adverse events reported to a publicly available database. We searched the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database for reported adverse events (RAE) involving the intuitive surgical system. Reports involving prostatectomy from 2014 to 2019 were extracted and analyzed for data regarding death, patient injury, and device malfunction. Of 9109 reported adverse events (RAE), 602 were extracted for robotic prostatectomy over the study period. Seven were patient deaths (1.2%), 53 (8.8%) were patient injuries (Table 1), and 542 (90.0%) were malfunctions (Table 2). Malfunctions resulted in 25 aborted cases, 21 open conversions, and 25 laparoscopic conversions (71/542, 13.1%; Fig. 1). Instrument failures comprised the majority (76.4%) of malfunctions. Seven malfunctions (1.3%) resulted in patient injury. The most common device-related injury involved the monopolar curved scissors. No reported deaths were related to robot malfunction. Instrument failures comprise majority of the malfunctions of the Da Vinci robot during robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy. When malfunctions do occur they are usually recoverable and rarely lead to patient injury.

Background: The role of minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy is still unclear, and whether robotic distal pancreatectomy (RDP) offers benefits over laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) is unknown because large multicentre studies are lacking. This study compared perioperative outcomes between RDP and LDP., Methods: A multicentre international propensity score-matched study included patients who underwent RDP or LDP for any indication in 21 European centres from six countries that performed at least 15 distal pancreatectomies annually (January 2011 to June 2019). Propensity score matching was based on preoperative characteristics in a 1 : 1 ratio. The primary outcome was the major morbidity rate (Clavien-Dindo grade IIIa or above)., Results: A total of 1551 patients (407 RDP and 1144 LDP) were included in the study. Some 402 patients who had RDP were matched with 402 who underwent LDP. After matching, there was no difference between RDP and LDP groups in rates of major morbidity (14.2 versus 16.5 per cent respectively; P = 0.378), postoperative pancreatic fistula grade B/C (24.6 versus 26.5 per cent; P = 0.543) or 90-day mortality (0.5 versus 1.3 per cent; P = 0.268). RDP was associated with a longer duration of surgery than LDP (median 285 (i.q.r. 225-350) versus 240 (195-300) min respectively; P < 0.001), lower conversion rate (6.7 versus 15.2 per cent; P < 0.001), higher spleen preservation rate (81.4 versus 62.9 per cent; P = 0.001), longer hospital stay (median 8.5 (i.q.r. 7-12) versus 7 (6-10) days; P < 0.001) and lower readmission rate (11.0 versus 18.2 per cent; P = 0.004)., Conclusion: The major morbidity rate was comparable between RDP and LDP. RDP was associated with improved rates of conversion, spleen preservation and readmission, to the detriment of longer duration of surgery and hospital stay., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of BJS Society Ltd. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background and Objective: Rectal cancer is often surgically treated, but it is still associated with morbidity rates. Minimally invasive techniques are increasingly being used to reduce complications, and the use of such techniques can be found in the literature. This study aims to report our experience in a reference oncology center., Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed on a prospective database of patients who underwent robotic surgery for rectal cancer using the single-docking technique from September 2014 to April 2018. Clinical and surgical variables, as well as morbidity and mortality rates, were analyzed., Results: One hundred and two patients underwent robotic surgery. Intraoperative complications occurred in six patients (4.9%), and postoperative complications in 24 patients (23.5%), of which anastomotic fistula represented 3.9%. The conversion rate was 1.96%. Two cases (1.9%) faced death within 30 days. The median length of hospitalization was 3 days. The median number of lymph nodes dissected was 15. Clinical and surgical data were correlated with postoperative complications, and no statistically significant differences were found., Conclusion: Robotic surgery is a safe and feasible approach to manage rectal cancer. The method presents satisfactory results with regard to the rate of operative complications, conversion rate, oncologic outcomes, and length of hospitalization., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: To investigate the learning curve of robot-assisted laparoscopy in early-stage cervical cancer and quantify impact on oncological outcomes., Design: Observational cohort study., Setting: Tertiary referral centre with one surgical team., Population: All women with early-stage cervical cancer treated consecutively with robot-assisted laparoscopy between 2007 and 2017., Methods: With multivariate risk-adjusted cumulative sum analysis (RA-CUSUM), we assessed the learning curve of robot-assisted laparoscopy of a single surgical team based on cervical cancer recurrence. Subsequently, a survival analysis was conducted comparing oncological outcomes of women treated during different phases of the learning curve., Main Outcome Measures: Surgical proficiency based on recurrence, survival rates in the different learning phases., Results: One hundred and sixty-five women with cervical cancer underwent robot-assisted laparoscopy, with a median follow up of 57 months (range 3-132 months). The RA-CUSUM analysis demonstrated two phases of the learning curve: a learning phase of 61 procedures (group 1) and an experienced phase representing the 104 procedures thereafter (group 2). The 5-year disease-free survival was 80.2% in group 1 and 91.1% in group 2 (P = 0.040). Both the 5-year disease-specific survival and overall survival significantly increased after the learning phase., Conclusion: The learning phase of robot-assisted laparoscopy in early-stage cervical cancer in this institutional cohort is at least 61 procedures, with higher survival rates in the women treated thereafter. The learning curve of robot-assisted laparoscopy affects oncological outcomes and warrants more attention in the design of future studies., Tweetable Abstract: The learning curve of robot-assisted laparoscopy in early-stage cervical cancer affects oncological outcomes and warrants more attention., (© 2020 The Authors. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.)

Lateral lymph node dissection (LLND) is a challenging procedure due to its technical difficulty and higher incidence of surgical morbidity, thus the purpose of this study is to compare the postoperative morbidity and mortality between laparoscopic and conventional open LLND after mesorectal excision (ME) for advanced rectal cancer. A comprehensive search was conducted in August 2019 based on data from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI and Wanfang Data to identify relevant studies, and studies comparing laparoscopic with conventional open LLND were included. Seven studies with 335 cases in the laparoscopic LLND group and 841 cases in the conventional open LLND group were finally included. Compared with the conventional open LLND group, the laparoscopic LLND group enjoys a lower postoperative morbidity (OR = 0.47,95% CI [0.23, 0.97], P = 0.04), same postoperative mortality (Postoperative mortality in both groups was zero), shorter length of postoperative hospitalization (WMD = -5.30, 95% CI [-8.42, -2.18], P = 0.0009), less wound infection (OR = 0.40,95% CI [0.21, 0.77], P = 0.006), less intestinal obstruction (OR = 0.50,95% CI [0.29, 0.84], P = 0.009), and less urinary retention (OR = 0.61,95% CI [0.38, 0.97], P = 0.04). There were no significant differences in the incidence of anastomotic leakage, abdominal pelvic abscess and urinary tract infection between the two groups (P > 0.05). But in the sensitivity analysis, there was a significant change of urinary tract infection (OR = 0.22, 95%CI [0.06, 0.89], P = 0.03), and the degree of between-study heterogeneity decreased greatly. In conclusion, laparoscopic LLND may be a better alternative to conventional open LLND for advanced rectal cancer with lower postoperative morbidity and shorter postoperative hospital stay., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Rui Du, Jiajie Zhou, Dongliang Li, Jiawen Liu, Changmin Ma, Liuhua Wang, and Daorong Wang declared that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC.)

Objectives: To determine if elderly patients (≥70 years) have differences in functional and survival outcomes compared to non-elderly patients (<70 years) following transoral robotic surgery., Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients undergoing robotic surgery for head and neck cancer at a tertiary institution from 2011 to 2016. Functional status was evaluated with diet, enteric feeding status, Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS), tracheostomy tube placement, and unplanned readmission. Kaplan Meier method and Cox proportional hazard model were used to assess overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) between elderly and non-elderly patients., Results: Two hundred and forty-six patients met inclusion criteria. The mean age of the cohort was 63.5 ± 9.74 years. There were 64 patients (26.0%) that were ≥70 years. Elderly patients were more likely to be discharged with enteric access (p < 0.002). As early as 3 months, there was no significant difference in need for enteric feeds, diet, or FOIS score. There was no difference in tracheostomy tube rates and unplanned readmission between both cohorts. There was no significant difference in OS and DFS between age groups when stratified by p16 status., Conclusions: Elderly patients are more likely to require perioperative enteric feeding, but 3-month, 1-year, and 2-year functional outcomes are comparable to younger patients. Survival outcomes are similar in both populations., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: This study sought to evaluate surgical outcomes, cost, and opiate utilization between patients who underwent either laparoscopic or robotic-assisted bariatric procedures, including sleeve gastrectomy (SG) or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB)., Methods: The Vizient administrative database was queried for patients admitted with mild to moderate severity of illness scores who underwent elective laparoscopic (L) and robotic-assisted (R) SG or RYGB from October 2015 through December 2018. Patients were grouped according to surgical approach for each bariatric procedure. Rates of overall complications, mortality, 30-day readmission, LOS, total direct cost, and opiate utilization were collected. Comparisons were performed within each bariatric procedure, between laparoscopic and robotic approaches, using IBM SPSS v.25.0, α = 0.05., Results: For SG, a total of 84,034 patients were included (LSG:N = 78,405; RSG:N = 5639). There was no significant difference in rates of overall complications (LSG:0.5%, RSG:0.4%; p = 0.872), mortality (LSG:<0.01%, RSG:<0.01%; p = 0.660), and 30-day readmissions (LSG: 0.5%, RSG:0.5%; p = 0.524). Average LOS was 1.65 ± 1.07 days for LSG and 1.77 ± 1.29 days for RSG (p=<0.001). Robotic approach had a significantly higher direct cost (LSG: $6505 ± 3,200, RSG: $8018 ± 3849; p=<0.001). Rate of opiate use was 97.3% for both groups (p=>0.05). For RYGB, 36,039 patients met the inclusion criteria (LRYGB:N = 33,053; RRYGB:N = 2986). There was no significant difference in rates of overall complications (LRYGB: 1.4%, RRYGB:1.3%; p = 0.414) or mortality (LRGYB:<0.01%, RRYGB: <0.01%; p = 0.646). Robotic approach was associated with a lower 30-day readmission rate (LRYGB: 1.3%, RRYGB:<0.01%; p=<0.001). Average LOS was 2.1 ± 2.18 days for LRYGB and 2.18 ± 3.78 days for RRYGB (p = 0.075). Robotic approach had a significantly higher direct cost (LRYGB:$8564 ± 5,350, RRYGB: $10,325 ± 7689; p=<0.001) and rate of opiate use (LRYG:95.75%, RRYGB:96.85%; p = 0.005)., Conclusion: Our study found the direct cost of RSG to be significantly higher than LSG with no added clinical benefit, therefore, universal use of the robotic platform for routine SG cases remains difficult to justify. While the direct cost of RRYGB was also higher than LRYGB, the significantly lower readmission rate associated with robotic approach may help to offset the financial discrepancy and warrant its use., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: To compare the long-term oncologic outcomes of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) vs laparotomy for patients with stage IB (2018 FIGO) cervical cancer., Methods: A matched retrospective study of cervical cancer patients who underwent MIS or laparotomy at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from January 2012 to December 2015 was carried out. Patients were restaged according to the 2018 FIGO staging system for cervical cancer, 700 cases with stage IB cervical cancer were enrolled. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed by software SPSS version 22.0, and a total of 426 patients were enrolled and analyzed. Oncologic outcomes were compared between patients undergoing MIS vs laparotomy., Results: After PSM, there were no statistical differences in other baseline characteristics between MIS and laparotomy, except for age (p = 0.008). In all stage IB patients, MIS group had significantly lower disease-free survival (DFS) rate and overall survival (OS) rate compared with laparotomy group (5-year DFS rate, 87.5% vs 94.1%, hazard ratio for disease recurrence, 2.403; 95% CI, 1.216-4.744; 5-year OS rate, 92.3% vs 98.1%, hazard ratio for death, 3.719; 95% CI, 1.370-10.093). In stage IB1 patients population, MIS was still associated with worse DFS and OS compared to laparotomy (5-year DFS rate: 89.5% vs 100%, p = 0.012; 5-year OS rate: 93.4% vs 100%, p = 0.043). Even in stage IB1 patients without lymph vascular space invasion, worse oncologic outcome could be observed in MIS group (DFS: p = 0.021; OS: p = 0.076)., Conclusion: Our study suggested that laparotomy resulted in better OS and DFS compared with MIS among patients with stage IB cervical cancer. Even in stage IB1 patients without lymph vascular space invasion (2018 FIGO), laparotomy might be still an oncologically safer approach., (© 2020 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Robotic-assisted technology has been a reliable tool in enhancing precision and accuracy of cup placement in total hip arthroplasty (THA). Still, questions remain on the clinical benefit of this technology., Methods: The purposes of the ongoing study were (1) to report on minimum 5-year outcomes in patients who underwent robotic-assisted primary THA (rTHA), (2) to compare those outcomes to a propensity score-matched manual primary THA (mTHA) control group, and (3) to compare radiographic measures between the groups regarding acetabular cup placement. Prospectively collected patient data were retrospectively reviewed for primary THA recipients during June 2008 to July 2013. Patients with minimum 5-year follow-up for Harris Hip Score, Forgotten Joint Score-12, Veterans RAND-12 Mental, Veterans RAND-12 Physical, 12-Item Short Form Survey Mental, 12-Item Short Form Survey Physical, visual analog scale, and satisfaction were included. Patient-reported outcomes, cup placement, and revision rate of the rTHA group were compared with those of a propensity score-matched mTHA control group., Results: Sixty-six rTHAs were matched to 66 mTHAs. The rTHA group reported significantly higher Harris Hip Score, Forgotten Joint Score-12, Veterans RAND-12 Physical, and 12-Item Short Form Survey Physical (P < 0.001, P = 0.002, P = 0.002, P = 0.001). The acetabular implant placement by rTHA had a 9 and 4.7-fold reduced risk of placement outside the Lewinnek and Callanan safe zones, respectively (relative risk, 0.11 [95% confidence interval, 0.03 to 0.46]; P = 0.002; relative risk, 0.21 [95% confidence interval, 0.01 to 0.47]; P = 0.001). In addition, rTHA recipients had lesser absolute values of leg length discrepancy and global offset (P = 0.091, P = 0.001)., Conclusions: Patients who received rTHA reported favorable outcomes at minimum 5-year follow-up. Furthermore, in comparison to a propensity score pair-matched mTHA group, rTHAs reported higher patient-reported outcome scores and had 89% reduced risk of acetabular implant placement beyond the Lewinnek safe zone and 79% reduced risk of placement beyond the Callanan safe zone., Level of Evidence: Level III.

Objective: Robotically assisted mitral valve repair was approved for use in Japan in April 2018. The study objective was to assess the safety and clinical outcomes of robotic mitral valve surgery in the first 100 cases performed in our center., Methods: We reviewed the first 100 patients who underwent robotic primary mitral valve repair, including concomitant procedures, from April 2018 to August 2019. The cause of mitral valve disease was degenerative (n = 94), endocarditis (n = 2), functional (n = 2), and other (n = 2)., Results: There was no in-hospital or 30-day mortality. Mitral valve repair was completed in all patients. Only one patient required conversion to full sternotomy due to left ventricular apex bleeding. In echocardiography performed before hospital discharge, the mitral regurgitation was graded as none or trivial in 94 patients (94%) and mild in 4 (4%). Only two patients required surgical re-intervention due to postoperative hemolysis with moderate mitral regurgitation. For patients who underwent the mitral valve procedure alone, the median times of the total operation, cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic clamping, and console usage were 185, 112, 71, and 60 min, respectively. The learning curve showed that the operation time decreased slightly during the first ten cases and then plateaued at a mean of approximately 180 min., Conclusions: Robotically assisted mitral valve repair was feasible, safe, and therapeutically effective in the first 100 cases, with a minimal learning curve. The robotically assisted approach provides a high-quality surgical view and tremorless suture/cut handling, which will contribute to further development of minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.

The ASA score is known to be an independent predictor of complications and mortality following colorectal surgery. We evaluated early outcome in the initiation phase of a robotic oncological colorectal resection program in dependence of comorbidity and learning curve. 43 consecutive colorectal cancer patients (median age: 74 years) who underwent robotic surgery were firstly analysed defined by physical status (group A = ASA1 + 2; group B = ASA3). Secondly, outcome was evaluated relating to surgery date (group E: early phase; group L: late phase). There were no differences among groups A and B with regard to gender, BMI, skin-to-skin operative times (STS), N- and M-status, hospital-stay as well as overall rate of complications according to Dindo-Clavien and no one-year mortality. GroupA when compared to group B demonstrated significantly lower mean age (65.5 years ± 11.4 years vs 75.8 years  ± 8.9 years), T-stage and ICU-stay. When separately analyzed for patients age ICU-stay was comparable (> 75 years vs. < 75 years). Group E and L demonstrated comparable characteristics and early outcome except more frequent lymphatic fistulas in group E. STS was reduced in group L compared to group E. Beyond learning curve aspects in our series, we could demonstrate that patient's physical condition according to ASA rather than age may have an impact on early outcome in the initial phase of a robotic oncological colorectal program.

Background: Laser Ablation of Abnormal Neurological Tissue using Robotic NeuroBlate System (LAANTERN) is an ongoing multicenter prospective NeuroBlate (Monteris Medical) LITT (laser interstitial thermal therapy) registry collecting real-world outcomes and quality-of-life (QoL) data., Objective: To compare 12-mo outcomes from all subjects undergoing LITT for intracranial tumors/neoplasms., Methods: Demographics, intraprocedural data, adverse events, QoL, hospitalizations, health economics, and survival data are collected; standard data management and monitoring occur., Results: A total of 14 centers enrolled 223 subjects; the median follow-up was 223 d. There were 119 (53.4%) females and 104 (46.6%) males. The median age was 54.3 yr (range 3-86) and 72.6% had at least 1 baseline comorbidity. The median baseline Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) was 90. Of the ablated tumors, 131 were primary and 92 were metastatic. Most patients with primary tumors had high-grade gliomas (80.9%). Patients with metastatic cancer had recurrence (50.6%) or radiation necrosis (40%). The median postprocedure hospital stay was 33.4 h (12.7-733.4). The 1-yr estimated survival rate was 73%, and this was not impacted by disease etiology. Patient-reported QoL as assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Brain was stabilized postprocedure. KPS declined by an average of 5.7 to 10.5 points postprocedure; however, 50.5% had stabilized/improved KPS at 6 mo. There were no significant differences in KPS or QoL between patients with metastatic vs primary tumors., Conclusion: Results from the ongoing LAANTERN registry demonstrate that LITT stabilizes and improves QoL from baseline levels in a malignant brain tumor patient population with high rates of comorbidities. Overall survival was better than anticipated for a real-world registry and comparative to published literature., (© Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2020.)

Background: Short-term outcomes of robotic mesorectal excision for rectal cancer resection seem comparable to those of conventional laparoscopic mesorectal excision. However, the long-term oncological outcomes of robot mesorectal excision require further investigation., Materials and Methods: The PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from the date of database inception to March 31, 2019 for all available trials; the results of robotic and laparoscopic mesorectal excision for rectal cancer surgery were compared. Survival parameters, including overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), were independently extracted by two investigators. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using random- or fixed-effects models. The presence of heterogeneity was assessed using Q test, and the extent of heterogeneity was quantified by I 2 index. The meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager software, version 5.3., Results: A total of seven studies including 2593 patients (1362 treated by robotic mesorectal excision and 1231 by laparoscopic mesorectal excision) were included. Pooled analyses showed no significant difference in OS (HR = 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.63 to 1.39, P = 0.75) or DFS (HR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.79 to 1.10, P = 0.85) between the robotic and laparoscopic mesorectal excision for treatment of rectal cancer., Conclusion: Regarding long-term survival, robotic mesorectal excision for rectal cancer is comparable to laparoscopic mesorectal excision. More prospective, multicenter randomized trials with longer follow-up periods are needed to determine the long-term outcomes of patients undergoing robotic mesorectal excision., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Introduction: This study was undertaken to examine 100 consecutive robotic distal pancreatectomies with splenectomies, and to compare our outcomes to predicted outcomes as calculated using the American college of surgeons national surgical quality improvement program (ACS NSQIP) Surgical Risk Calculator and to the outcomes contained within NSQIP., Methods: Outcomes were compared with predicted outcomes, calculated using the ACS NSQIP Surgical Risk Calculator, and with outcomes documented in NSQIP for distal pancreatectomy. For illustrative purposes, data are presented as median (mean ± SD)., Results: Patients who underwent robotic distal pancreatectomy were of age 67 (63 ± 13.4) years with a BMI of 29 (29 ± 6.3) kg/m 2 , with 49% being women. Operative duration was 242 (265 ± 112.2) minutes and estimated blood loss was 110 (211 ± 233.9) mL. Predicted outcomes were similar to those reported in NSQIP. Our actual outcomes were significantly superior to the predicted outcomes for serious complication, any complication, surgical site infection, sepsis, and length of stay. Compared to NSQIP outcomes, our actual outcomes for serious complication, any complication, surgical site infection, sepsis, and delayed gastric emptying were significantly superior. Twelve percent of operations were converted to "open." There were 3 deaths within 30 days, similar to predicted outcomes. Deaths were due to sepsis (2) and respiratory failure (1)., Conclusion: Our patients' predicted outcomes were the same as national outcomes; our patients were not a select group. However, their actual outcomes were like or significantly superior than those predicted by NSQIP or reported in NSQIP. We believe that the robot has the future of distal pancreatectomy with or without splenectomy.

Objective: The oncologic efficacy of minimally invasive thymectomy for thymoma is not well characterized. We compared short-term outcomes and overall survival between open and minimally invasive (video-assisted thoracoscopic and robotic) approaches using the National Cancer Data Base., Methods: Perioperative outcomes and survival of patients who underwent open versus minimally invasive thymectomy for clinical stage I to III thymoma from 2010 to 2014 in the National Cancer Data Base were evaluated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling and propensity score-matched analysis. Predictors of minimally invasive use were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression. Outcomes of surgical approach were evaluated using an intent-to-treat analysis., Results: Of the 1223 thymectomies that were evaluated, 317 (26%) were performed minimally invasively (141 video-assisted thoracoscopic and 176 robotic). The minimally invasive group had a shorter median length of stay when compared with the open group (3 [2-4] days vs 4 [3-6] days, P < .001). In a propensity score-matched analysis of 185 open and 185 minimally invasive (video-assisted thoracoscopic + robotic) thymectomy, the minimally invasive group continued to have a shorter median length of stay (3 vs 4 days, P < .01) but did not have significant differences in margin positivity (P = .84), 30-day readmission (P = .28), 30-day mortality (P = .60), and 5-year survival (89.4% vs 81.6%, P = .20) when compared with the open group., Conclusions: In this national analysis, minimally invasive thymectomy was associated with shorter length of stay and was not associated with increased margin positivity, perioperative mortality, 30-day readmission rate, or reduced overall survival when compared with open thymectomy., (Copyright © 2019 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Maximal extent of resection (EOR) of glioblastoma (GBM) is associated with greater progression free survival (PFS) and improved patient outcomes. Recently, a novel surgical system has been developed that includes a 2D, robotically-controlled exoscope and brain tractography display. The purpose of this study was to assess outcomes in a series of patients with GBM undergoing resections using this surgical exoscope., Methods: A retrospective review was conducted for robotic exoscope assisted GBM resections between 2017 and 2019. EOR was computed from volumetric analyses of pre- and post-operative MRIs. Demographics, pathology/MGMT status, imaging, treatment, and outcomes data were collected. The relationship between these perioperative variables and discharge disposition as well as progression-free survival (PFS) was explored., Results: A total of 26 patients with GBM (median age = 57 years) met inclusion criteria, comprising a total of 28 cases. Of these, 22 (79%) tumors were in eloquent regions, most commonly in the frontal lobe (14 cases, 50%). The median pre- and post-operative volumes were 24.0 cc and 1.3 cc, respectively. The median extent of resection for the cohort was 94.8%, with 86% achieving 6-month PFS. The most common neurological complication was a motor deficit followed by sensory loss, while 8 patients (29%) were symptom-free., Conclusions: The robotic exoscope is safe and effective for patients undergoing GBM surgery, with a majority achieving large-volume resections. These patients experienced complication profiles similar to those undergoing treatment with the traditional microscope. Further studies are needed to assess direct comparisons between exoscope and microscope-assisted GBM resection.

This study aims to evaluate differences in the risk factors for biochemical recurrence (BCR) for radical prostatectomy stratified by degree of obesity, focusing on the surgical method used. All 3099 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy in two medical centres from January 2008 to March 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into three groups based on body mass index: 'normal', 'overweight', and 'obese'. Risk factors associated with biochemical recurrence were compared between different degrees of obesity. We analysed the contributing risk factors of BCR-free survival using univariate and multivariable Cox hazard models. There were 378 (12.2%) and 1815 (58.6%) patients in the 'obese' and 'overweight' groups, respectively. Accordingly, 1324 patients underwent retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP), and 1775 underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP). Multivariable analysis showed that patients who underwent RALP had significantly lower BCR free survival in the 'overweight' and 'obese' groups than those who underwent RRP, with adjusted hazard ratios of 0.75 (95% CI 0.59-0.95, p-value = 0.01) and 0.55 (95% CI 0.33-0.90, p-value = 0.02), respectively. The degree of obesity was not directly associated with BCR-free survival. Robotic prostatectomy showed greater benefits in BCR-free survival than open prostatectomy in the 'overweight' and 'obese' groups.

To analyze the initial learning curve (LC) for robot-assisted pancreaticoduodenectomy (RAPD) and compare RAPD during the initial LC with open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD) in terms of outcome. This study is a retrospective review of patients who consecutively underwent RAPD and OPD between October 2015 and January 2020 in our hospital. 41 consecutive RAPD cases and 53 consecutive open cases were enrolled for review. Compared with OPD, RAPD required a significantly longer operative time (401.1 ± 127.5 vs. 230.8 ± 44.5 min, P < 0.001) and higher cost (194621 ± 78342 vs. 121874 ± 39973 CNY, P < 0.001). Moreover, compared with the OPD group, the RAPD group revealed a significantly smaller mean number of lymph nodes harvested in malignant cases (15.6 ± 5.9 vs 18.9 ± 7.3, P = 0.025). No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of incidence of Clavien-Dindo grade III-V morbidities and 90-day mortality and readmission (P>0.05). In the CUSUM graph, one peak point was observed at the 8th case, after which the operation time began to decrease. LC for RAPD may be less than 30 cases, and RAPD is safe and feasible during the initial LC.

Introduction: We compared retrograde extraperitoneal open radical cystoprostatectomy (REORC) and robot-assisted radical cystoprostatectomy with intracorporeal diversion (iRARC) and have reported the early perioperative outcomes., Patients and Methods: REORC and iRARC were each performed at a different tertiary high-volume center in 2 countries. Men aged ≥ 18 years with precystectomy clinical stage T1-T3 disease were included. Patients with previous major pelvic and/or intra-abdominal surgery, those who had undergone previous pelvic and/or abdominal irradiation, women, and patients with clinical stage T4 disease were excluded. All cases were managed according to a standardized enhanced recovery after surgery protocol, and all the patients had undergone ileal conduit urinary diversion. Bowel recovery was one of the main endpoints; thus, the intervals to passing flatus, tolerating oral feeding, and bowel opening were determined. The operative time, estimated blood loss, intraoperative complications, length of hospital stay, postcystectomy tumor type, stage, margin status, lymph node yield, and 30- and 90-day complications were analyzed., Results: We performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from October 2016 to December 2018 of 99 patients, 50 of whom had undergone REORC and 49 iRARC. The demographic data and preoperative parameters were comparable between the 2 groups. REORC resulted in a significantly shorter mean operative time (P < .001), significantly greater mean estimated blood loss (P < .001), and greater percentage of patients requiring blood transfusion (98% vs. 12.24%). No significant differences in the length of stay were observed (P = .412). The rate of prolonged postoperative ileus was 16% and 18.4% in the REORC and iRARC groups, respectively (P = .3). Differences in the interval to passing flatus, tolerating solid oral intake, and bowel opening were not statistically significant between the 2 groups (P = .423, P = .770, and P = .700, respectively). No statistically significant difference was observed in the postcystectomy pathologic outcomes and overall and major complications rates at 30 and 90 days., Conclusion: REORC resulted in quicker bowel recovery and a shorter length of stay compared with conventional open procedures, with advantages comparable to those realized with iRARC. Thus, REORC can be adopted as the preferred open approach at institutions without surgical robots available., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Although robotic-assisted lobectomy has been increasingly used for resection of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the long-term oncologic outcomes compared with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and the open thoracotomy approach have remained ill-defined., Patients and Methods: Society of Thoracic Surgeons outcomes data and surveillance records of patients with stage I-IIIa NSCLC who had undergone lobectomy by robotic-assisted, VATS, or the open approach at a single center from 2012 to 2017 were reviewed. Propensity score adjustment by inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to balance the baseline characteristics. Recurrence and survival were analyzed and compared by the operative approach., Results: The inverse probability of treatment weighting-adjusted cohort included 514 patients with NSCLC who had undergone robotic-assisted (n = 245), VATS (n = 118), and open (n = 151) lobectomy, with similar patient and disease characteristics. The minimally invasive procedures were associated with a shorter median hospital length of stay (robotic, 5.2 days; VATS, 4.9 days; open, 7.3 days; P < .001) and 0-adjusted 30-day mortality rate. With a median follow-up period of 45 months, the incidence for locoregional recurrence (robotic, 7%; VATS, 6%; open, 8%; P = .9) and distant failure (robotic, 14%; VATS, 18%; open, 17%; P = .9) was similar. The 5-year overall survival for robotic-assisted, VATS, and open lobectomy was 63%, 55%, and 65%, respectively (P = .56). No difference was found in stage-specific survival for stage I, II, and IIIa. On multivariate analysis, the robotic approach was associated with no differences in overall survival and recurrence-free survival compared with VATS and open lobectomy., Conclusion: Robotic lobectomy was associated with durable freedom of recurrence and long-term survival equivalent to those achieved with VATS and the traditional open thoracotomy approach., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP) has been poorly studied in men with renal graft., Objective: To determine the predictive factors for oncologic outcomes and complications after RARP in renal transplants recipients (RTRs)., Design and Participants: A retrospective multicenter controlled study identified all RTRs who had undergone RARP between 2008 and 2016 in 2 experts departments. All RTRs were matched 1:1 with patients who had also undergone RARP but with no history of renal transplant (control group)., Intervention: Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy., Outcome Measurements: Incontinence, oncologic outcomes, and complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification., Statistical Analysis: Comparisons of the quantitative variables using Student's t tests, and comparisons of the qualitative variables using χ2 tests. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS (version 9.3). Independent risk factors of biochemical recurrence (BCR), postoperative complications, or incontinence were searched by using a multivariate linear regression., Results: Twenty-seven RTRs were included in the transplant group and compared with 27 men in the control group with similar preoperative characteristics. Univariate analysis showed a shorter BCR-free survival in RTRs, with 26.9 months vs 49.3 months in the control group (P = .018). BCR rate was similar in each group (7.4% vs 11.1%, P = .639). No difference between groups was showed for immediate postoperative complications (29.6% vs 22.2%, P = .279). Multivariate analysis showed that a renal graft history was an independent risk factor of shorter BCR-free survival (hazard ratio = 4.291; 95% confidence interval, 2.102-8.761 and P < .001). Even if it is the first comparative study on this topic, the low number of men included is the main limitation of our study., Conclusions: These findings show the reliability of RARP in RTRs. The rate of BCR does not appear more frequently but BCR-free survival seems shorter in these patients. A prospective comparative study remains necessary with more patients to confirm our results., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background . Transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) was developed as a less aggressive alternative treatment for rectal lesions. The purpose of this study was to report the results of robotic TAMIS for such patients. Methods . Patients eligible for TAMIS were operated on using the da Vinci robotic surgical system and GelPOINT Path Transanal Access Platform. Patient demographics, lesion characteristics, perioperative data, complications, and follow-up of all patients were recorded retrospectively. Results . Between March 2015 and August 2018, 24 patients underwent robotic TAMIS by using the da Vinci Si or Xi. The median operative time was 129.6 minutes, and the estimated blood loss was minimal. The mean length of hospital stay was 4.6 days, with no operative complications and no 30-day mortality. There were no statistically significant differences in clinical results and pathological outcomes between the 2 generations of da Vinci systems. Conclusions . With the use of robotic technology, transanal local excision for rectal lesions can be performed with relative ease and safety and can be potentially decreasing the morbidity associated with more aggressive surgical techniques.

Introduction: Revisional bariatric surgery is being increasingly performed and is associated with higher operative risks. Optimal techniques to minimize complications remain controversial. Here, we report a retrospective review of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) Participant User Files (PUF) database, comparing outcomes between revision RBS and LBS., Methods: The 2015 and 2016 MBSAQIP PUF database was retrospectively reviewed. Revision cases were identified using the Revision/Conversion Flag. Selected cases were further stratified by surgical approach. Subgroup analysis of sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass cases was performed. Case-controlled matching (1:1) was performed of the RBS and LBS cohorts, including gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy cohorts separately. Cases and controls were match by demographics, ASA classification, and preoperative comorbidities., Results: 26,404 revision cases were identified (93.3% LBS, 6.7% RBS). 85.6% were female and 67% white. Mean age and BMI were 48 years and 40.9 kg/m 2 . 1144 matched RBS and LBS cases were identified. RBS was associated with longer operative duration (p < 0.0001), LOS (p = 0.0002) and a higher rate of ICU admissions (1.3% vs 0.5%, p = 0.05). Aggregate bleeding and leak rates were higher in the RBS cohort. In both gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy cohorts, the robotic-assisted surgery remain associated with longer operative duration (p < 0.0001). In gastric bypass, rates of aggregate leak and bleeding were higher with robotic surgery, while transfusion was higher with laparoscopy. For sleeve gastrectomy cases, reoperation, readmission, intervention, sepsis, organ space SSI, and transfusion were higher with robotic surgery., Conclusion: In this matched cohort analysis of revision bariatric surgery, both approaches were overall safe. RBS was associated with longer operative duration and higher rates of some complications. Complications were higher in the robotic sleeve cohort. Robotic is likely less cost-effective with no clear patient safety benefit, particularly for sleeve gastrectomy cases.

Objective: To review mortality rates in benign gynecologic minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic surgery (MIS) and the rates associated with commonly performed MIS procedures., Data Sources: An electronic-based search was performed on PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Database for articles published in the last 10 years in English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian., Methods of Study Selection: All MIS articles in benign gynecology reporting operative mortality (within 30 days) were reviewed., Tabulation, Integration, and Results: The articles identified through the aforementioned search criteria were independently evaluated by the first 2 authors. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale for observational studies and Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool for randomized controlled trials were used to assess the risk of bias. Meta-analysis was applied to calculate pooled mortality rates using the inverse-variance method. Twenty-one articles (124 216 patients) were included. Operative mortality from any benign MIS (laparoscopy and robotics) procedure was 1:6456 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1:3946-1:10 562). Studies were then grouped based on the surgical procedure. The mortality rate for hysterectomy (119 721 patients), sacrocolpopexy, and adnexal surgery and diagnostic laparoscopy was 1:6814 (95% CI: 1:4119-1:11 275), 1:1246 (95% CI: 1:36-1:44 700), and 1:2245 (95% CI: 1:45-1:113 372), respectively. Eighteen articles reported operative mortality for laparoscopic surgery and 4 for robotic surgery., Conclusion: Operative mortality in benign minimally invasive gynecologic surgery is low, and mortality for laparoscopic and robotic approaches appears to be similar., (Copyright © 2019 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Robotic-assisted bariatric surgery is increasingly performed. There remains controversy about the overall benefit of robotic-assisted (RBS) compared to conventional laparoscopic (LBS) bariatric surgery. In this study, we used a large national risk-stratified bariatric clinical database to compare outcomes between robotic and laparoscopic gastric bypass (RNYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG)., Methods: A retrospective analysis of the 2015 and 2016 Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) Participant Use Data File (PUF) was performed. Primary robotic and laparoscopic RYNGB and SG were analyzed. Descriptive analysis was performed of the unmatched cohorts, followed by 1:3 case-controlled matching. Cases and controls were matched by patient demographics and pre-operative comorbidities, and peri-operative outcomes compared., Results: 77,991 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RnYGB) (7.5% robotic-assisted) and 189,503 SG (6.8% robotic-assisted) cases were identified. Operative length was significantly higher in both the robotic-assisted RnYGB and SG cohorts (p < 0.0001). Outcomes were similar between the robotic-assisted and laparoscopic RnYGB cohorts, except a lower mortality rate (p = 0.05), transfusion requirement (p = 0.005), aggregate bleeding (p = 0.04), and surgical site infections (SSI) (p = 0.006) in the robotic-assisted cohort. Outcomes were also similar between robotic-assisted and laparoscopic SG, except for a longer length of stay (p < 0.0001) and higher rates of conversion (p < 0.0001), 30-day intervention (p = 0.01), operative drain present (p < 0.0001), sepsis (p = 0.01), and organ space SSI (p = 0.0002) in the robotic cohort. Bleeding was lower in the robotic SG cohort and mortality was similar., Conclusion: Both robotic-assisted and laparoscopic RnYGB and SG are overall very safe. Robotic-assisted gastric bypass is associated with a lower mortality and morbidity; however, a clear benefit for robotic-assisted SG compared to laparoscopic SG was not seen. Given the longer operative and hospital duration, robotic SG is not cost-effective.

Background: This study aimed to compare the long-term survival of patients undergoing minimally invasive gastrectomy and those undergoing open gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma (GA) in the United States and China., Methods: Data on patients with GA who underwent gastrectomy without neoadjuvant therapy were retrieved from prospectively maintained databases at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and Fujian Medical University Union Hospital (FMUUH). Using propensity score-matching (PSM), equally sized cohorts of patients with similar clinical and pathologic characteristics who underwent minimally invasive versus open gastrectomy were selected. The primary end point of the study was 5-year overall survival (OS)., Results: The study identified 479 patients who underwent gastrectomy at MSKCC between 2000 and 2012 and 2935 patients who underwent gastrectomy at FMUUH between 2006 and 2014. Of the total 3432 patients, 1355 underwent minimally invasive gastrectomy, and 2059 underwent open gastrectomy. All the patients had at least 5 years of potential follow-up evaluation. Before PSM, most patient characteristics differed significantly between the patients undergoing the two types of surgery. After PSM, each cohort included 889 matched patients, and the actual 5-year OS did not differ significantly between the two cohorts, with an OS rate of 54% after minimally invasive gastrectomy and 50.4% after open gastrectomy (p = 0.205). Subgroup analysis confirmed that survival was similar between surgical cohorts among the patients for each stage of GA and for those undergoing distal versus total/proximal gastrectomy. In the multivariable analysis, surgical approach was not an independent prognostic factor., Conclusions: After PSM of U.S. and Chinese patients with GA undergoing gastrectomy, long-term survival did not differ significantly between the patients undergoing minimally invasive gastrectomy and those undergoing open gastrectomy.

Background: Despite recent advances in diagnosis and treatment, cervical cancer continues to be a significant health problem worldwide. Whereas robot-assisted surgery has advantages over the abdominal approach, and minimally invasive techniques are being used increasingly, these may be associated with a higher recurrence rate and lower overall survival than the abdominal approach. The objective of this study was to compare the surgical and survival outcomes between abdominal radical hysterectomy (ARH) and robotic radical hysterectomy (RRH)., Methods: A retrospective cohort of patients undergoing radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer from 2006 to 2018 was identified. Patients with stage IA to IB cervical cancer were included and grouped: ARH vs. RRH. The RRH group was further divided into two groups based on the year of enrollment: RRH1 (2006-2012) and RRH2 (2013-2018). Tumor characteristics, recurrence rate, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were compared between the groups. P-values < 0.05 (two-sided) were considered statistically significant., Results: A total of 310 patients were identified: 142 and 168 underwent ARH and RRH, respectively. RRH1 and RRH2 had 77 and 91 patients, respectively. Interestingly, RRH2 was more likely to have a larger tumor size (1.7 ± 1.4 vs. 2.0 ± 1.1 vs. 2.4 ± 1.7 cm, P = 0.014) and higher stage (P < 0.001) than RRH1. However, RRH2 showed significantly favorable PFS in contrast to RRH1. There was no difference between ARH and RRH2 in PFS (P = 0.629), whereas overall, the RRH group showed significantly shorter PFS than the ARH group. In the multivariate analysis, the institutional learning curve represented by the operation year was one of the significant predictors for PFS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.065, P = 0.0162), along with tumor size (HR 5.651, P = 0.0241)., Conclusions: The institutional learning curve, represented by the operation year, is one of the most significant factors associated with outcomes of RRH for early-stage cervical cancer.

Background . We compared the outcomes of laparoscopic-assisted (LA) and robotic-assisted (RA) gastrectomies performed for gastric adenocarcinoma in the National Cancer Database. Methods . The National Cancer Database was queried for patients 18 years old with stages I to III gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent LA or RA gastrectomy. Propensity matching was performed between the 2 groups with regard to clinical staging, adjuvant treatment, demographics, and the extent of surgery. Results . A cohort of 1893 (1262 = LA, 631 = RA) patients was identified in a 2:1 propensity matching. The groups were well matched. The rate of negative margin as well as 30- and 90-day mortality were similar between the 2 cohorts. Long-term survival was similar between the 2 groups (median survival 49.2 months in LA vs 56.2 months for RA, P = .405). However, the average number of lymph nodes (LNs) sampled was significantly higher in the RA group compared with the LA group (19.6 vs 17.4, P < .001). Similarly, the percentage of surgeries in which ≥15 LNs were sampled was also greater in the RA group compared with the LA group (63.9% vs 57.6%, P = .010). On multivariable analysis, having 15 LNs or more examined was associated with better survival (hazard ratio = 0.72, 95% confidence interval = 0.60-0.87, P < .001). Advanced age, nodal positivity, and advanced clinical stages were significantly associated with worse survival. Conclusions . RA gastrectomy may allow a greater harvest of LNs, and thus more accurate staging, without increasing short-term adverse outcomes compared with LA gastrectomy. Short-term and long-term outcomes in this well-matched cohort appear comparable for both approaches.

Technology, including robotics, has been developed for use in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) to improve accuracy and precision of bone preparation, implant positioning, and soft tissue balance. The NAVIO™ System (Smith and Nephew, Pittsburgh, PA, United States) is a handheld robotic system that assists surgeons in planning implant positioning based on an individual patient's anatomy and then preparing the bone surface to accurately achieve the plan. The surgical technique is presented herein. In addition, initial results are presented for 128 patients (mean age 64.7 years; 57.8% male) undergoing UKA with NAVIO. After a mean of follow-up period of 2.3 years, overall survivorship of the knee implant was 99.2% (95% confidence interval 94.6-99.9%). There was one revision encountered during the study, which was due to persistent soft tissue pain, without evidence of loosening, subsidence, malposition or infection. These initial results suggest a greater survivorship than achieved in the same follow-up time intervals in national registries and cohort studies, though further follow-up is needed to confirm whether this difference is maintained at longer durations.

Background: There is a paucity of robust clinical data on major postoperative complications following robotic-assisted resection for primary lung cancer. This study assessed the incidence and outcomes of patients who experienced major complications after robotic anatomic pulmonary resection., Methods: This was a multicenter, retrospective review of patients who underwent robotic anatomic pulmonary resection between 2002 and 2018. Major complications were defined as grade III or higher complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. Statistical analysis was performed based on patient-, surgeon-, and treatment-related factors., Results: During the study period, 1264 patients underwent robotic anatomic pulmonary resections, and 64 major complications occurred in 54 patients (4.3%). Univariate analysis identified male sex, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide, neoadjuvant therapy, and extent of resection as associated with increased likelihood of a major postoperative complication. Patient age, performance status, body mass index, reoperation status, and surgeon experience did not have a significant impact on major complications. Patients who experienced at least 1 major complication were at higher risk for an intensive care unit stay of >24 hours (17.0% vs 1.4%; P < .001) and prolonged hospitalization (8.5 days vs 4 days; P < .001). Patients who experienced a major postoperative complication had a 14.8% risk of postoperative death., Conclusions: In this series, the major complication rate during the postoperative period was 4.3%. A number of identified patient- and treatment-related factors were associated with an increased risk of major complications. Major complications had a significant impact on mortality and duration of stay., (Copyright © 2019 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)