Robot-assisted laparoscopic colorectal surgery

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignancies seen in developed countries. Its current treatment is based on a multidisciplinary approach entailing surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Surgery can be performed with open and minimal invasive methods. Single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS), natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) and robot assisted laparoscopic surgery (RALS) are the final points to be reached in minimally invasive surgery. The first robotic colorectal surgical intervention was performed in 2001 after getting the FDA approval for the da Vinci surgical system in intraabdominal surgery, and since then, its use in this field gradually increased. Compared to open surgery, the advantage and superiority of robotic surgery, especially in narrow areas such as the pelvis, has been shown in many studies. It is a safe and feasible method. Although there are many existing studies about minimally invasive surgery, more randomized studies with larger case numbers should be carried out in order to establish the favorable oncological and functional outcomes of robotic surgery in addition to its obviously observed advantages.