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Ghuman et al. Mini-invasive Surg 2020;4:84 Mini-invasive Surgery
DOI: 10.20517/2574-1225.2020.88

Review Open Access

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

of oncological outcomes

Amandeep Ghuman, Sandra Kavalukas, 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: Ghuman A, Kavalukas S, Wexner SD. Robotic or laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer - which is the best
answer? A comprehensive review of oncological outcomes. Mini-invasive Surg 2020;4:84.
http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2574-1225.2020.88

Received: 15 Sep 2020 First Decision: 30 Oct 2020 Revised: 2 Nov 2020 Accepted: 6 Nov 2020 Published: 20 Nov 2020
Academic Editor: Sergio W. Larach Copy Editor: Cai-Hong Wang Production Editor: Jing Yu

Abstract
Treatment of rectal cancer is ever evolving with the introduction of newer surgical technologies and multimodal
treatment approach. The literature evaluating the various surgical treatment options with regards to operative and
nonoperative outcomes is abundant. This is a comprehensive review focused on oncological outcomes of rectal
cancer resection performed robotically or laparoscopically. Based on the current literature available, there is no
significant difference in total mesorectal excision completeness, lymph node harvest, positive circumferential
resection margin, or proximal resection margin between robotic and laparoscopic approaches for rectal resection.
Selection of surgical approach should not be based on pathological outcomes as they are equivalent.

Keywords: Robotic, robotics, laparoscopic, laparoscopy, rectal cancer, rectal carcinoma, total mesorectal excision

INTRODUCTION
The treatment of rectal cancer has evolved during the last several decades into a multidisciplinary
model of care. During this time, surgical innovations continued to revolutionize treatment and improve
[1]
patient outcomes, most notably the introduction of total mesorectal excision (TME) by Heald et al. .
This landmark discovery changed the trajectory of rectal cancer resections and greatly improved patient
outcomes by reducing pelvic recurrences. Since that time, laparoscopic TME was introduced and has

© The Author(s) 2020. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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