Robotic total mesorectal excision: Early surgical and oncological outcomes

Objectives: to evaluate the surgical and oncological outcomes of patients with extraperitoneal rectal cancer who underwent robotic total mesorectal excision (TEM). Methods: from January 2007 to March 2010 a total of 60 patients were consecutively operated on through robotic technique. Data regarding surgical data and oncological outcomes were prospectively registered in a database. Results: 35 men and 25 women underwent surgery. The mean age was 60.3 ± 11.7 years. Sphincter preserving surgery was possible in 52 patients. The mean number lymph node harvested was 18.7 ± 8.8 lymph nodes. The mean distal surgical margin was 2.9 ± 1.7 cm, while the radial margin was negative in all patients. The duration of postoperative follow-up was 14.3 months. Only one local recurrence was observed. The overall and the cancer-specific survival were respectively 97.6% and 98.3%. Conclusions: robotic TEM is feasible and safe. It is equal or superior to open and laparoscopic techniques in terms of morbidity and mortality rates, sphincter preservation rates and early oncological outcomes.