Robot-assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Purpose: The aim of this study is to analyze the outcome of the initial experience in our country in general surgery field with robot assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Case report: Robot-assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in 5 patients with symptomatic gallbladder stones in Umraniye Training and Research Hospital in Department of General Surgery. Gender, age, robots' set up time, total operation time, length of hospital stay and complications were evaluated. All of the 5 patients were female and mean age was 47 years. Mean time for staining, covering, positioning of the patient and dressing of the robotic arms with sterile drapes was 63 minutes. Mean total operation time was 138 minutes. There was no conversion to conventional laparoscopy or laparotomy. No intraoperative or postoperative complication developed. The mean length of the hospital stay was 1.6 days. Conclusion: Robot-assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be performed safely in symptomatic gallbladder stones.