Robotic Colorectal Surgery: Is It Still on the Way to a Landmark?

conducted. Most studies, including this study, have reported that robotic colorectal surgery is safe and feasible based on short-term outcomes [1-4]. Baek et al. [5], based on a threeyear follow-up, reported that robotic rectal surgery could be carried out safely in terms of recurrence and survival rates. However, all such studies are limited by small sample size and by the fact that they were conducted at a single institution. The short-term and the long-term outcomes of robotic colorectal surgery will be verified based on these clinical studies and on any advantages of the new robotic system compared with the conventional laparoscopic system (fewer conversions, fewer complications, etc.), but the high cost for robotic systems and instruments still remains a problem for wide application. Thus, some additional studies that are quite different from laparoscopic clinical studies and that will study the merits of robotic surgery are needed. We still hunger for strong evidence regarding the advantages to patients and surgeons that will outweigh the high cost of robotic systems and equipment. Recently, in a prospective comparative study of a laparoscopic and a robotic TME, the urogential function was recovered earlier in the robotic TME than in the laparoscopic one [6]. Recently, the robotic versus laparoscopic resection for rectal cancer trial, a prospective randomized clinical trial comparing robotic-assisted and laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer, was begun. In Korea, the COLRAR trial, a prospective, randomized, controlled trial of assess robotic-assisted surgery and laparoscopy assisted surgery in patients with mildor low rectal cancer, was also recently begun. Even though a good landmark has not yet been found, we must be on the path to find such a landmark.