Robotic cholecystectomy: first experience with the new Senhance robotic system

This retrospective study was performed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the new Senhance robotic system (Transenterix) for robotic cholecystectomy. Our series is the first experience with cholecystectomies utilizing this new platform. From May 2017 to August 2017, 20 robotic cholecystectomies were performed using the Senhance robotic system. Patients were between 23 years and 78 years of age, eligible for a laparoscopic procedure with general anesthesia, with no life-threatening co-morbidities that limited the subjects’ life-expectancy to fewer than 12 months. A retrospective chart review was performed for a variety of pre-, peri- and postoperative data including, but not limited to patient demographics, intraoperative complications and postoperative complications. 9 male and 11 female patients were included in this study. Median age was 39.5 years (range 23–78); median BMI was 27.35 kg/m2 (range 22.8–48.3). Median docking time was 10 min (range 2–26), and median operative time was 71.5 min (range 34–197). Conversion to standard laparoscopy occurred in one case for lysis of extensive adhesions. There were no conversions to open technique. There were no intra- or post-operative complications noted. We report the first series of robotic cholecystectomies using the new Senhance system. Docking time and total operative time decreased significantly over the course of this series and did not plateau; console time did not change significantly. This study demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing this platform in performing minimally invasive cholecystectomies.