Robotic surgery is a viable – and sometimes advantageous – approach for emergency colorectal surgery.
A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons suggests that the acceptance of robotic approaches will grow, with utilisation projected to increase to 20.2% throughout 2025.
Emergency colorectal surgery traditionally uses open procedures, with only limited use of minimally invasive methods.
Although robotic surgery shows advantages in elective procedures, its function in emergency scenarios remains uncertain.
Researchers from the US, Italy and Belgium assessed the outcomes of robotic, laparoscopic, and open techniques in emergency colorectal procedures and forecasted future adoption trends.
The research team used the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database to analyse 83,483 patients who underwent emergency colorectal surgery. Included were 53,731 open, 26,649 laparoscopic, and 3,103 robotic procedures.
Study results show:
• Robotic surgery is gaining traction in emergency settings, representing 6.6% of colorectal surgeries in 2021
• There are lower conversion rates when robotic surgery is compared to open surgery (7.8% vs. 24.2% for laparoscopy) and shorter postoperative stays
• Patient selection is crucial – robotic surgery is preferred for stable patients with conditions like diverticulitis and non-septic cancer cases
• A projected increase to 20.2% utilisation of a robotic approach in 2025 indicates growing acceptance
• Improved outcomes justify investment in robotic platforms, though challenges such as availability and training remain.
The study’s authors concluded that robotic surgery is a viable approach for emergency colorectal surgery, with lower conversion rates to open surgery and improved postoperative outcomes compared to both laparoscopic and open approaches.
The projected increase in robotic utilisation reflects growing acceptance of this technology, suggesting that its technical advantages may extend to more complex emergency cases than previously considered, according to the researchers.
