Abstract
Aim : The aim of this study was to describe our technique for the surgical treatment of clinically suspected or incidentally diagnosed gallbladder cancer (GBC) and to report the outcomes of our experience. Methods : This is a retrospective observational study including consecutive patients operated by a robotic approach for the surgical treatment of clinically suspected or incidentally diagnosed GBC (with the intent of radical re-resection after index cholecystectomy) performed between January 2017 and December 2019. Clinical outcomes and technical details related to the robotic approach were analyzed. Results : During the study period, 8 patients underwent robotic radical cholecystectomy with lymphadenectomy and atypical resection of segments IVb-V. No conversion or major complications occurred intraoperatively. All patients underwent a radical resection. There were one Clavien-Dindo grade II and one grade IIIb complication. Median hospital stay was 6 days (range 5-11). At a median follow-up of 17.5 months (range 29.3-7.3), all patients are alive and free from disease except one who had peritoneal recurrence and underwent chemotherapy. No trocar site recurrence was observed. Conclusion : The present study describes a standardized step-by-step robotic technique for the surgical treatment of GBC and demonstrates the feasibility and safety of the robotic approach. More data and multicentre series are needed to confirm our results and to assess the oncologic outcomes of the robotic approach.
Highlights
Invasive approaches are gradually becoming a standard of care in abdominal surgical oncology
Five patients were submitted to robotic radical cholecystectomy for suspected gallbladder cancer (GBC), while three patients were submitted to radical revision surgery for an incidental diagnosis of GBC after index cholecystectomy
We presented a prospective series of eight consecutive patients operated for GBC by a robotic approach with results comparable to those reported in the recent literature and showed the feasibility and the safety of this minimally invasive approach
Summary
Invasive approaches are gradually becoming a standard of care in abdominal surgical oncology. There is a strong reluctance to the adoption of the minimally invasive approach for the treatment of gallbladder cancer (GBC), which is one of the most aggressive cancers of the biliary tract and is generally associated with a poor prognosis. This scepticism is historically related to the fear of tumour dissemination due to bile spillage, tumour manipulation during laparoscopy, possible tumour peritoneal implantation due to the pneumoperitoneum as well as to technical difficulties related to liver resection and to the achievement of an adequate clearance of lymph nodes. The aim of this study was to report the outcomes of our initial experience with the robotic treatment of clinically suspected or incidentally diagnosed GBC and to highlight the technical details related to the robotic approach
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
