Robotic-assisted colon and rectal surgery: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND Colorectal surgery is one of the most common procedures performed by general surgeons, with an increasing number being performed laparoscopically. Robotic technology is emerging in the ongoing evolution in minimally invasive surgery. This study systematically reviews the literature regarding the safety and feasibility of robotic-assisted colorectal surgery. METHODS A comprehensive search of electronic databases was completed for the period 2000 to 2010. Two independent reviewers assessed the studies for relevance and inclusion, and extracted data. RESULTS After an initial screen of 347 titles, 20 studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 854 patients were included with a mean age of 61 years and a body mass index of 25.5 kg/m(2) . Major complications included 27 anastamotic leaks (27/766 = 3.5%), 10 post-operative bleeds (1.1%) and 14 post-operative infections (1.6%). There were no mortalities reported. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review demonstrates that robotic-assisted colorectal surgery is emerging as a safe and feasible option in colorectal surgery.