Robotic right colectomy for cancer with intracorporeal anastomosis: short-term outcomes from a single institution

Abstract

Laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer has widely accepted as safe and effective. However, few studies report outcomes on robotic right colon resection with confectioning of the intracorporeal ileocolic anastomosis. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and safety of robotic right colon resection with intracorporeal ileocolic anastomosis (RRCIA) in patients with cancer. Data of consecutive series of 20 patients undergoing RRCIA between June 2011 and May 2012 at our institution were prospectively collected in order to evaluate surgical and oncological short-term outcomes. Seven males and 13 females were operated of RRCIA during the study period. Mean age is 66.7years. The mean overall operative time was 327.5min (255-485), and the robot time was 286min (range 225-440min). No conversion to open or laparoscopy occurred. The mean specimen length was 32.7cm (range 26-44cm), and the mean number of harvested lymph nodes was 17.6 (range 14-21). During the 30 postoperative days, only one complication occurred, consisting in an infection of surgical specimen extraction wound. The RRCIA is a feasible and safe for patients with right colon cancer, also in terms of intraoperative oncological outcomes.