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Kavalukas et al. Mini-invasive Surg 2020;4:61 Mini-invasive Surgery
DOI: 10.20517/2574-1225.2020.71

Review Open Access

Robotic or laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer -
which is the best answer? a comprehensive review

of non-oncological outcomes and learning curve

Sandra L. Kavalukas, Amandeep Ghuman, Stephen P. Sharp, Steven D. Wexner

Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL 33331, USA.

Correspondence to: Dr. Steven D. Wexner, Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL 33331, USA.
E-mail: wexners@ccf.org
How to cite this article: Kavalukas SL, Ghuman A, Sharp SP, Wexner SD. Robotic or laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer - which
is the best answer? a comprehensive review of non-oncological outcomes and learning curve. Mini-invasive Surg 2020;4:61.
http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2574-1225.2020.71

Received: 8 Jul 2020 First Decision: 6 Aug 2020 Revised: 13 Aug 2020 Accepted: 14 Aug 2020 Published: 1 Sep 2020
Academic Editor: S. W. Larach Copy Editor: Cai-Hong Wang Production Editor: Jing Yu

Abstract
Much effort has been spent evaluating the difference between robotic and laparoscopic surgery platforms for
rectal cancer. There is a plethora of literature comparing outcomes for intraoperative events, postoperative
complications, long term outcomes, cost, and learning curve. The data are conclusive regarding the higher cost
of robotic surgery compared to laparoscopic surgery. This article is a comprehensive review of the available
literature regarding intraoperative and postoperative outcomes. For practically all parameters evaluated, there
are no significant differences between the two platforms. The ultimate decision on whether to perform robotic
vs. laparoscopic surgery should be based on surgeon preference and familiarity with equipment, as well as local
resources.

Keywords: Rectal cancer, rectal carcinoma, robotic, robotics, laparoscopy, total mesorectal excision

INTRODUCTION
Surgical management of rectal cancer has undergone an impressive evolution during the past thirty years.
An explosion of minimally invasive techniques has advanced almost every colorectal operation since the
[1]
first reports of laparoscopic segmental and total colectomy . Advantages of laparoscopic surgery compared
to laparotomy include reductions in postoperative pain, length of stay, incisional hernia, adhesive

© The Author(s) 2020. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use,
sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as long
as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license,
and indicate if changes were made.

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