Robot versus laparoscopic gastrectomy for cancer by an experienced surgeon: Comparisons of surgery, complications, and surgical stress

Myung Han Hyun, Chung Ho Lee, Ye Ji Kwon, Sung Il Cho, You-Jin Jang, Dong Hoon Kim, Jong Han Kim, Seong-Heum Park, Young Jae Mok, Sungsoo Park

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

114 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: No previous robotic studies present an equivalent surgical quality comparison in an experienced setting for gastric cancer. In addition, a reliable postoperative complication assessment is needed to accurately evaluate surgical outcomes. Methods: After 20 cases of robotic-assisted gastrectomy (RAG), a total of 121 consecutive gastric cancer patients underwent gastrectomy (38 RAG vs 83 laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy [LAG]) from February 2009 to November 2010 at the Department of Surgery, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Korea. The Clavien-Dindo (C-D) classification was used to classify surgical complications. The granulocyte-to-lymphocyte (G:L) ratio was analyzed to evaluate surgical stress. Results: The baseline characteristics, with the exception of age, were similar. The mean total operation time for RAG (234.4 ± 48.0 min) was not significantly different than that for LAG (220.0 ± 60.6 min; P = 0.198). However, in obese patients, fewer lymph nodes were harvested by RAG (23.4 ± 7.0) than by LAG (32.2 ± 12.5, P = 0.006). Overall C-D complications were more common for RAG (47.3 vs 38.5 %), but the difference was not significant (P = 0.361). The mean hospital stay was similar for the 2 groups. Surgical stress as estimated by the G:L ratio was comparable between the 2 groups. Conclusions: RAG performed by an experienced surgeon resulted in similar postoperative outcomes and complications to those of LAG. Assessment of operation time, C-D complication grade, and G:L ratio revealed that RAG is a practical and feasible alternative to LAG, with the possible exception of obese patients.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1258-1265
Number of pages8
JournalAnnals of Surgical Oncology
Volume20
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013 Apr

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
ACKNOWLEDGMENT We would like to thank Dr. Hye-Young Cho for her collection and management of the data for the study population. This study was supported by a grant from the National R&D program for Cancer Control, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (1020410).

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Oncology

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