RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate safe introduction of a new technology (Da Vinci robotic system) into laparoscopic bariatric practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed treatment outcomes in patients with morbid obesity who underwent robot-assisted sleeve gastrectomy between 2020 and 2023. The same team of surgeons performed all operations. Evolution of technique and preparation of the operating theatre were recorded. Demographic data of patients, surgery time (docking and total surgery time), simultaneity of intervention, intraoperative and postoperative complications, as well as weight loss after 6 months were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: There were 15 robot-assisted sleeve gastrectomies between 2020 and 2023. Of these, 14 patients underwent surgery without complications. One patient was diagnosed with portal vein thrombosis that required anticoagulation. Median surgery time 194 [173.5; 241] min, period between incision and docking - 35 [30; 36] min. The length of hospital-stay was 3 days. The median weight loss after 6 months was 37.5% [29.5; 51.2]. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates safe introduction of a new technology to prepare the bariatric team for more complex surgical interventions in the future.
