Comparing outcomes of robotic versus open mesorectal excision for rectal cancer Journal Article


Authors: Jimenez-Rodriguez, R. M.; Flynn, J.; Patil, S.; Widmar, M.; Quezada-Diaz, F.; Lynn, P.; Strombom, P.; Temple, L.; Smith, J. J.; Wei, I. H.; Pappou, E. P.; Guillem, J. G.; Paty, P. P.; Nash, G. M.; Weiser, M. R.; Garcia-Aguilar, J.
Article Title: Comparing outcomes of robotic versus open mesorectal excision for rectal cancer
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The outcomes of robot-assisted mesorectal excision for rectal cancer, compared with open resection, have not been fully characterized. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of pathologic, short-term, and long-term outcomes in patients with rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent total or tumour-specific mesorectal excision at a high-volume cancer centre between 2008 and 2017 was conducted. Outcomes after robotic and open surgery were compared on an intention-to-treat basis. RESULTS: Out of 1048 resections performed, 1018 patients were reviewed, with 638 who underwent robotic surgery and 380 open surgery. Robotic surgery was converted to the open approach in 17 (2.7 per cent) patients. Patients who underwent robotic surgery were younger (median 54 (range 22-91) years versus median 58 (range 18-97) years; P < 0.001), had higher tumours (median 80 (range 0-150) mm from the anal verge versus median 70 (0-150) mm; P = 0.001), and were less likely to have received neoadjuvant therapy (64 per cent versus 73 per cent; P = 0.003). For patients who underwent a robotic total mesorectal excision, the operating time was longer (median 283.5 (range 117-712) min versus median 249 (range 70-661) min; P < 0.001). However, the rate of complications was lower (29 per cent versus 45 per cent; P < 0.001) and length of hospital stay was shorter (median 5 (range 1-32) days versus median 7 (range 0-137) days; P < 0.001). Median follow-up of survivors was 2.9 years. The proportion of patients with a positive circumferential resection margin did not differ between the groups, nor did the rate of local recurrence (robotic versus open: 3.7 per cent, 95 per cent c.i. 1.9 to 5.6 versus 2.8 per cent, 95 per cent c.i. 1.0 to 4.6; P = 0.400), systemic recurrence (robotic versus open: 11.7 per cent, 95 per cent c.i. 8.5 to 14.8 versus 13.0 per cent, 95 per cent c.i. 9.2 to 16.5; P = 0.300), or overall survival (robotic versus open: 97.8 per cent, 95 per cent c.i. 96.3 to 99.3 versus 93.5 per cent, 95 per cent c.i. 90.8 to 96.2; P = 0.050). The same results were documented in a subanalysis of 370 matched patients, including 185 who underwent robotic surgery and 185 open surgery, for the overall incidence of any postoperative complications, overall survival, disease-free survival, local recurrence, and systemic recurrence. CONCLUSION: In patients with rectal cancer who are candidates for curative resection, robotic mesorectal excision is associated with lower complication rates, shorter length of stay, and equivalent oncologic outcomes, compared with open mesorectal excision. © The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of BJS Society Ltd.
Journal Title: BJS Open
Volume: 5
Issue: 6
ISSN: 2474-9842
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.  
Date Published: 2021-11-01
Start Page: zrab135
Language: English
DOI: 10.1093/bjsopen/zrab135
PUBMED: 35040943
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC8765333
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 1 March 2022 -- Source: Scopus
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
MSK Authors
  1. Sujata Patil
    511 Patil
  2. Philip B Paty
    501 Paty
  3. Jose Guillem
    414 Guillem
  4. Martin R Weiser
    540 Weiser
  5. Garrett Nash
    267 Nash
  6. Larissa Temple
    193 Temple
  7. Jesse Joshua Smith
    227 Smith
  8. Maria   Widmar
    78 Widmar
  9. Patricio Bernardo Lynn
    13 Lynn
  10. Emmanouil Pappou
    93 Pappou
  11. Jessica Flynn
    182 Flynn
  12. Iris Hsin - chu Wei
    68 Wei
  13. Felipe Quezada
    19 Quezada