Gastrointestinal Robot-Assisted Surgery. A Current Perspective

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Sorinel Luncã¹, George Bouras², Alexandru Cãlin Stãnescu²

1) Emergency Surgical Clinic, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Gr. T. Popa” Iaºi. 2) IRCAD/EITS, University of Medicine “Louis Pasteur” Strasbourg, France

Abstract

Minimally invasive techniques have revolutionized operative surgery. Computer aided surgery and robotic surgical systems strive to improve further on currently available minimally invasive surgery and open new horizons. Only several centers are currently using surgical robots and publishing data. In gastrointestinal surgery, robotic surgery is applied to a wide range of procedures, but is still in its infancy. Cholecystectomy, Nissen fundoplication and Heller myotomy are among the most frequently performed operations. The ZEUSTM (Computer Motion, Goleta, CA) and the da VinciTM (Intuitive Surgical, Mountain View, CA) surgical systems are today the most advanced robotic systems used in gastrointestinal surgery. Most studies reported that robotic gastrointestinal surgery is feasible and safe, provides improved dexterity, better visualization, reduced fatigue and high levels of precision when compared to conventional laparoscopic surgery. Its main drawbacks are the absence of force feedback and extremely high costs. At this moment there are no reports to clearly demonstrate the superiority of robotics over conventional laparoscopic surgery. Further research and more prospective randomized trials are needed to better define the optimal application of this new technology in gastrointestinal surgery.

Key words

Robotic surgery - gastrointestinal surgery - da Vinci surgical system