ABSTRACT
Background: Laparoscopic sigmoid resection is the surgical standard for the treatment of diverticulitis. Robotic sigmoid resection with the da Vinci Xi® platform may offer advantages over the laparoscopic approach. Materials and Methods: One hundred and six patients with uncomplicated, complicated, or recurrent diverticular disease underwent robotic (n = 60) or laparoscopic (n = 46) sigmoid resection at our institution between 2013 and 2018. Patient demographics and characteristics, perioperative measures, and complications were retrospectively analyzed. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the robotic and laparoscopic group with regard to operative time (130 versus 118 minutes; P = .23), anastomotic leakage (6.7% versus 6.5%; P = 1.0), need for stoma (6.7% versus 4.3%; P = 1.0), conversion rate (1.7% versus 0%; P = .36), reoperation (8.3% versus 15.2%; P = .27), overall complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification (30.0% versus 30.4%; P = .8), mortality (1.7% versus 0%; P = 1.0), and need for intravenous analgesics (3.0 versus 2.1 days; P = .21). The duration of postoperative ileus was significantly shorter in the robotic group (2.2 versus 2.8 days; P = .01). Conclusion: Robotic sigmoid resection for uncomplicated, complicated, or recurrent diverticular disease is a safe and feasible procedure. However, robotic sigmoid resection for diverticulitis is not associated with relevant clinical benefits for patients compared to laparoscopic resection except for a slightly shorter duration of postoperative ileus.
