Robot-Assisted versus Open Liver Resection: A Matched Case-Control Study

Abstract

Introduction: Robot-assisted liver surgery is increasingly performed worldwide. The advantages of robot-assisted surgery are improved view and increased precision in operative technique. Robot-assisted surgery may have obvious benefits for patients, though more evidence is needed on the advantages and disadvantages of robot-assisted surgery when compared to open surgery. At our institution, a robot-assisted liver surgery program was implemented after formal theoretical and practical training using the Da Vinci Surgical System® (RALS). Methods: We performed a matched case-control study of the first 50 consecutive patients who were operated with robot-assisted liver resection at our institution at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark from June 2019 to June 2021. Patients operated with robot-assisted surgery were matched to patients who underwent open liver resection with regard to age, ASA-score, type of liver surgery, and ttumor type using MedCalc® Statistical Software. Results: We will present outcomes of the first 50 consecutive cases who underwent robot-assisted liver surgery compared with a matched group of 50 patients who underwent open liver surgery. We will report mortality, complications (using the Clavien-Dindo classification), procedure time, blood loss, duration of hospital admission, and rate of re-admissions. Conclusion: Favourable results can be achieved with robot-assisted liver surgery already at the start of the program. Our study adds to the necessary evidence required to establish the advantages and disadvantages of robot-assisted liver surgery when compared to open liver surgery.