Initial experience with a suprapubic single-port robotic right hemicolectomy in patients with colon cancer

Abstract

We developed a novel suprapubic single-port robotic right hemicolectomy (spRHC) procedure for patients with right colon cancer using a da Vinci SP Surgical System. The aim of this study was to determine the safety and feasibility of this technique. We performed the spRHC procedure on five patients with right colon cancers between July and September 2020. All procedures including colon mobilization, D3 lymphadenectomy, and intracorporeal anastomosis were completed using the single-port robotic platform through a mini-transverse suprapubic incision and an additional assistant port. Data regarding patient characteristics, perioperative outcomes and pathologic results were analyzed. Four of the five patients were males. The median age was 69years (range, 58-77years).Two patients received preoperative chemotherapy for advanced colon cancer. The median total operative time was 160min (range, 150-240min). The median docking time was 4min 40s (range, 2min 10s-5min 10s). The median console time was 105min (range, 100-120min). There were no conversions to multiport or open surgeries. The median hospital stay was 7days (range, 5-12days). One patient experienced a wound infection. The median number of harvested lymph nodes was 41 (range, 39-50 lymph nodes). SpRHC is safe and feasible. However, further comparative studies are needed to assess whether this procedure can provide patients with significant benefits compared with multiport robotic surgery.