Comparison of perioperative and short-term outcomes between robotic and conventional laparoscopic surgery for colonic cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE Reports from several case series have described the feasibility and safety of robotic surgery (RS) for colonic cancer. Experience is still limited in robotic colonic surgery, and a few meta-analysis has been conducted to integrate the results for colon cancer specifically. We conducted a systematic review of the available evidence comparing the surgical safety and efficacy of RS with that of conventional laparoscopic surgery (CLS) for colonic cancer. METHODS We searched English databases (MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library), and Korean databases (KoreaMed, KMbase, KISS, RISS, and KisTi). Dichotomous variables were pooled using the risk ratio, and continuous variables were pooled using the mean difference (MD). RESULTS The present study found that the RS group had a shorter time to resumption of a regular diet (MD, -0.62 days; 95% CI, -0.97 to -0.28), first passage of flatus (MD, -0.44 days; 95% CI, -0.66 to -0.23) and defecation (MD, -0.62 days; 95% CI, -0.77 to -0.47). Also, RS was associated with a shorter hospital stay (MD, -0.69 days; 95% CI, -1.12 to -0.26), a lower estimated blood loss (MD, -19.49 mL; 95% CI, -27.10 to -11.89) and a longer proximal margin (MD, 2.29 cm; 95% CI, 1.11-3.47). However, RS was associated with a longer surgery time (MD, 51.00 minutes; 95% CI, 39.38-62.62). CONCLUSION We found that the potential benefits of perioperative and short-term outcomes for RS than for CLS. For a more accurate understanding of RS for colonic cancer patients, robust comparative studies and randomized clinical trials are required.