Oncological Outcome After Robotic Surgery for Rectal Cancer

The aim of the study was to assess and analyse the oncologic postoperative outcome of patients after robotic surgery for rectal cancer We conducted a study on patients with rectal cancer undergoing robotic surgery at the 5th Surgery Clinic of the Municipal Clinical Hospital in Cluj-Napoca between January 2010 and December 2013 and evaluated postoperative survival after 5 year follow-up. There were 10 patients, median age was 62 +/- 11 years. Five anterior rectal resections, three lower rectal resections and two abdominoperineal resections were performed. Most tumors were stage III (6 cases). Of the patients included in the study, 7 patients survived and 3 patients died during the 5-year follow-up period. Survival at 5 years after robotic surgery was similar to open or laparoscopic surgery. Robotic surgery may be an alternative to laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of rectal cancer, especially with regard to the identification and preservation of nerve plexuses and dissection in a narrow pelvis with similar oncologic outcome.