Robotic versus laparoscopic total mesorectal excision surgery in rectal cancer: short-mid term oncological outcomes / 中华普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the safety and mid-term efficacy of robotic versus laparoscopic total mesorectal excision surgery in rectal cancer.Methods:A total of 240 patients were diagnosed with rectal cancer at the Anorectal Department of Gansu Provincial Hospital from Aug 2015 to Mar 2021, 112 patients underwent laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (L-TME group) and 128 patients did robotic-assisted total mesorectal excision (R-TME group).Results:Compared to the R-TME group, the L-TME group had higher conversion rate (5.4% vs. 0.8%, χ2=4.417, P=0.036), higher incidence of complications (32.1% vs. 17.2%, χ2=7.290, P=0.007), higher circumferential resection margin involvement (7.1% vs. 1.6%, χ2=4.658, P=0.031), lower 3-year DFS and OS(74.1% vs. 85.2%, χ2=4.962, P=0.026) and (81.3% vs. 91.4%, χ2=5.494, P=0.019), lower 3-year DFS and OS in AJCC stage Ⅲ(52.5% vs. 76.1%, χ2=5.799, P=0.016) and (65.0% vs. 84.8%, χ2=4.787, P=0.029). Conclusion:R-TME can achieve better oncological outcomes and is more beneficial for RC patients compared with L-TME, especially for those with stage Ⅲ rectal cancers.