BACKGROUND:Evidence for the routine use of robotic technology and its impact on short-term outcomes in colon cancer surgery is lacking. The aim of this study was to compare the surgically induced systemic stress response and clinical and patient-reported outcomes for patients undergoing robot-assisted or laparoscopic colon cancer surgery. METHODS:In this double-blinded superiority RCT completed between August 2021 and March 2023, patients with stage 1-3 colon cancer were randomized in a 1 : 1 ratio to undergo either robot-assisted or laparoscopic colon cancer surgery. The primary outcome was changes in the systemic stress response, characterized by C-reactive protein expression in the first three postoperative days. Secondary outcomes were intraoperative and postoperative complications and patient-reported outcomes. The latter included quality of recovery-15 and pain intensity using a visual analogue scale. RESULTS:In total, 128 patients were screened for potential inclusion in this study; 50 patients (25 in the robot-assisted group and 25 in the laparoscopic group) were included in the final follow-up and analysis. The postoperative C-reactive protein response was higher on the first postoperative day in the laparoscopic group (mean difference = 19.88 mg/l, 95% c.i. 3.89-35.86; P = 0.045). No statistically significant differences were noted for C-reactive protein expression on the second and third postoperative days. CONCLUSION:Adopting robot-assisted surgery for stage 1-3 colon cancer is associated with a reduction in the surgical stress response. REGISTRATION NUMBER:NCT04687384 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).
Background: Healthcare expenditure is increasing at a rate that surpasses the growth of the gross domestic product in most Western nations, emphasizing the need for precise hospital accounting practices. In resource-constrained environments, accurately estimating the costs of hospital services, such as robotic ventral hernia repair, is essential for achieving efficiency and transparency. Despite the existence of several studies reporting on the cost of robotic ventral hernia repair, there is a lack of systematic mapping of current knowledge on the methodological designs used in studies reporting on the costs and resource use. Methods: This study protocol outlines the methodology for a scoping review aimed at systematically mapping the existing literature on costing methodologies in robotic ventral hernia repair. The scoping review will follow the framework outlined by Arksey and O'Malley and adhere to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A systematic search will be conducted in Embase, Medline and Cochrane Library. Studies will be included if they involve patients undergoing robotic ventral hernia repair and report on cost/costing methodologies. The review will extract data on study characteristics, intervention specifics, and detailed costing methodologies. Two independent reviewers will conduct the data extraction, with discrepancies resolved through discussion or by a third reviewer. Discussion: The review will identify significant variations in costing methodologies, including differences in perspectives (hospital vs. societal), time horizons, and cost components. It aims to highlight gaps and inconsistencies in the current literature, providing a foundation for future research to standardize costing methodologies and improve the accuracy of economic evaluations in robotic surgery. By systematically mapping the existing literature, this scoping review will provide valuable insights into the current state of costing methodologies in robotic ventral hernia repair. It will serve as a foundational reference for researchers, policymakers, and healthcare providers, offering recommendations to enhance the economic evaluation of robotic surgical technologies. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement The author(s) received no specific funding for this work. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Not Applicable The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: The research described is exempted from IRB approval because it is a scoping review, which involves no direct interaction with human participants or collection of personal data. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Not Applicable I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Not Applicable I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Not Applicable No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study. All relevant data from this study will be made available upon study completion.
Background. Leakage from gastrointestinal anastomoses (AL) is a serious complication associated with increased morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospitalization, and increased treatment costs. Moreover, AL in patients following colorectal resection is associated with an increased risk of cancer-related death and a reduced 5-year survival rate. Several studies imply that coating of gastrointestinal anastomoses with sealing devices such as fibrin glue and omental patches may enhance tissue healing and reduce the risk of AL. Purpose. The present study was undertaken to examine the short (3 days) and long-term (4 weeks) effects of a fibrin patch (TachoSil) and a biological mesh (Biodesign) on connective tissue synthesis when applied on fascia and the serosal surfaces of the intestine. Methods. TachoSil and Biodesign patches were applied on fascia, stomach, duodenum, small bowel, and colon in 8 pigs. The animals were sacrificed after 3 days and 4 weeks, respectively. Tissue samples from each anatomical site were obtained for histopathological examinations and histochemical analyses. Results. Significant histopathological changes were only observed in samples from pigs sacrificed after 4 weeks. The analyses revealed granulomatous inflammatory responses in the subserosa with fibrosis, neovascularization, and a high concentration of myofibroblasts. Focally, destruction of muscularis propria was noted. The observed inflammatory responses did not differ substantially between the two patches. Conclusion. The present study demonstrates that TachoSil and Biodesign promote connective tissue synthesis. This response has the potential to increase the long-term strength of the connective tissue thereby lowering the risk of AL.
Inguinal hernia repair is a frequently performed surgical procedure, with laparoscopic repair emerging as the preferred approach due to its lower complication rate and faster recovery compared to open repair. Mesh-based tension-free repair is the gold standard for both methods. In recent years, robotic hernia repair has been introduced as an alternative to laparoscopic repair, offering advantages such as decreased postoperative pain and improved ergonomics. This study aims to compare the short- and long-term outcomes, including the surgical stress response, postoperative complications, quality of life, and sexual function, between robotic-assisted transabdominal preperitoneal (rTAPP) and laparoscopic TAPP inguinal hernia repairs. This randomized controlled trial will involve 150 patients from the Surgical Department of the University Hospital of Southern Denmark, randomized to undergo either rTAPP or laparoscopic TAPP. Surgical stress will be quantified by measuring C-reactive protein (CRP) and cytokine levels. Secondary outcomes include complication rates, quality of life, sexual function, and operative times. Data analysis will adhere to the intention-to-treat principle and will be conducted once all patient data are collected, with outcomes assessed at various postoperative intervals. This study holds significance in evaluating the potential advantages of robotic-assisted surgery in the context of inguinal hernia repairs. It is hypothesized that rTAPP will result in a lower surgical stress response and potentially lower the risk of postoperative complications compared to conventional laparoscopic TAPP. The implications of this research could influence future surgical practices and guidelines, with a focus on patient recovery and healthcare costs. The findings of this study will contribute to the ongoing discourse surrounding the utilization of robotic systems in surgery, potentially advocating for their broader implementation if the benefits are substantiated. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05839587. Retrospectively registered on 28 February 2023.
Background Repair of large incisional hernias is challenging, and the risks of postoperative complications have been associated with obesity, smoking, and diabetes. The present study was conducted to determine the impact of these risk factors on short and long-term outcomes following the repair with the peritoneal flap hernioplasty (PFH). Methods Three hundred twenty-seven patients undergoing PFH for incisional hernia repair were identified. Patient demographics and clinical data were recorded. Patients presenting signs of complications were assessed during a visit to the outpatient clinic. A multivariable regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between BMI, smoking and diabetes, and postoperative complications. Results The study included 157 males (48.0%) and 170 females (52.0%). Median BMI was 30.9 kg/m(2). Diabetes was present in 13.8% of patients. 23.2% were active smokers. The recurrence rate was 2.4%. The odds ratios for postoperative complications were increased by 9% per BMI unit (P < 0.01), due predominantly to a rise in superficial wound infections (P < 0.01) and seroma production (P = 0.07). The adjusted odds ratio increased fourfold in patients with BMI > 40 kg/m(2) (P = 0.06). Conclusion Incisional hernia repair with the PFH technique is associated with a low risk of short and long-term complications. The risk is associated with obesity and significantly increased in patients with a BMI exceeding 40 kg/m(2), where a fourfold increase was observed predominantly due to seroma and superficial wound infections. The recurrence rate was 2.4% and was unaltered across BMI categories. No association was established between smoking, diabetes, and the risk of all-cause complications.
Minimal invasive inguinal hernia repair is conducted using among others the laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) procedure or the extended totally extraperitoneal (eTEP) approach. Robotic-assisted TAPP (R-TAPP) has recently been introduced as an alternative to laparoscopic TAPP and TEP, and a growing number of robotic-assisted procedures are performed worldwide. The present study was conducted to determine the risk of chronic pain and recurrence associated with the two methods. Three hundred ninety-five patients were retrospectively included in the study and underwent either laparoscopic TAPP (n = 177) or R-TAPP (n = 218). Data on patient demographics, hernia characteristics, and postoperative outcomes were retrieved from medical records. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to assess hernia recurrence. Logistic regression was used to analyze secondary outcomes such as inpatient status, hematoma, and chronic pain. The Kaplan-Meier curves indicated a consistently higher cumulative incidence of recurrence in the TAPP group compared to the R-TAPP. Consistent with this finding, the Cox regression showed a higher risk of recurrence in patients undergoing TAPP, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 3.489 (95
In this case report, we present a 70-year-old male who was brought to our hospital with signs of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The patient was diagnosed with aortitis two and a half months prior. We suspected upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and the patient was taken to the operating room for an acute endoscopy, which showed blood in the oesophagus, ventricle, and duodenum, but no bleeding source. CT angiography showed erosion of aortic aneurism, at the site of known aortitis, with bleeding into the lung and pleura. The patient was transported to the nearest university hospital for thoracic endovascular repair and survived.
Background Complete mesocolic excision (CME) surgery is increasingly implemented for the resection of right-sided colonic cancer, possibly resulting in improved 5-year overall and disease-free survival compared to non-CME surgery. However, it is not clear what surgical platform should be used. The aim of this study was to compare the following outcomes between robot-assisted and laparoscopic CME-surgery for right-sided colonic cancer: (i) short-term clinical outcomes, (ii) pathological specimen quality, and (iii) long-term oncological outcomes. Methods Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched from inception until August 2021. Pooled proportions were calculated by applying the inverse variance method. Heterogeneity was explored by I-square and supplemented by sensitivity- and meta-regression analyses. The risk of bias was evaluated by either MINORS or Cochrane's risk-of-bias tool (RoB 2). Results Fifty-five studies with 5.357 patients (740 robot-assisted and 4617 laparoscopic) were included in the meta-analysis. Overall postoperative morbidity was 17% [95% CI (14-20%)] in the robot-assisted group and 13% [95%CI (12-13%)] in the laparoscopic group. Robot-assisted CME was associated with a shorter hospital stay, lower intraoperative blood loss, a higher amount of harvested lymph nodes, and better 3-year oerall and disease-free survival. MINORS and RoB2 indicated a serious risk of bias across studies included. Conclusions This review which includes predominantly non-randomized studies suggests a possible advantage of the robot-assisted CME compared with a laparoscopic technique for several short-term outcomes.
Robotic-assisted ventral hernia repair (rVHR) has emerged as an alternative to current open and laparoscopic procedures. The present study aims to determine the effect of rVHR on postoperative quality of life. Patients undergoing elective rVHR from 01/01 2017 until 12/6 2020 were identified from the hospitaĺs electronic medical record system. Patient demographic, clinical presentation, location of the hernial defect and postoperative complications were obtained from the case notes. A phone interview was also conducted to assess postoperative life quality using the EuraHS-QoL questionnaire. The pre and postoperative life quality assessment was performed to determine the effect of robotic-assisted ventral hernia repair on 1. Pain at the site of the hernia, 2. Restrictions of activities due to pain or discomfort at the site of the hernia and 3. Esthetical discomfort. Moreover, patients were asked whether they felt their overall quality of life had improved, deteriorated or was unaltered after the procedure. A Wilcoxon signed rank test was conducted to determine the effect of the repair on postoperative life quality. 85 out of 99 patients completed the interview and were included in this case series. The survey revealed a highly significant improvement of life quality in all categories (P < 0. 01). 86% of the participants reported that their overall quality of life had improved, 13% reported no change and 1% felt that it had deteriorated. Robotic-assisted retromuscular ventral hernia repair is a safe procedure that is associated with a significant improvement of patient quality of life.
Background Robot-assisted surgery is increasingly implemented for the resection of colorectal cancer, although the scientific evidence for adopting this technique is still limited. This study’s main objective was to compare short-term complication rates, oncological outcomes, and the inflammatory stress response after colorectal resection for cancer performed laparoscopic or robot-assisted. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study comparing the robot-assisted approach to laparoscopic surgery for elective malignant colorectal neoplasm. Certified colorectal and da Vinci ® robotic surgeons performed resections at a Danish tertiary colorectal high volume center from May 2017 to March 2019. We analyzed the two surgical groups using uni- and multivariate regression analyses to detect differences in intra- and postoperative clinical outcomes and the inflammatory stress response. Results Two hundred and ninety-eight patients were enrolled in the study. Significant differences favoring robot-assisted surgery was demonstrated for; length of hospital stay (4 days, interquartile range (4, 5) versus 5 days, interquartile range (4–7), p < 0.001), and intraoperative blood loss (50 mL, interquartile range (20–100) versus 100 mL, interquartile range (50–150), p < 0.001) compared to laparoscopic surgery. The inflammatory stress response was significantly higher after laparoscopic compared to robot-assisted surgery reflected by an increase in C-reactive protein concentration (exponentiated coefficient = 1.23, 95% confidence interval (1.06–1.46), p = 0.008). No differences between the two groups were found concerning mortality, microradical resection rate, conversion to open surgery, and surgical or medical short-term complication rates. Conclusion Robot-assisted surgery is feasible and can be safely implemented for colorectal resections. The robot-assisted approach, when compared to laparoscopic surgery, was associated with improved intra- and postoperative outcomes. Extensive prospective studies are needed to determine the short- and long-term outcomes of robotic surgery for colorectal cancer.
Abstract Background Robot-assisted surgery is being increasingly adopted in treating colorectal cancer, and the transition from laparoscopic surgery to robot-assisted surgery is a trend. The evidence of the benefits of robot-assisted surgery is sparse. However, findings are associated with improved patient-related outcomes and overall morbidity rates compared to laparoscopic surgery. This induction is unclear, considering both surgical modalities are characterized as minimally invasive. This study aims to evaluate the systemic and peritoneal inflammatory stress response induced by robot-assisted surgery compared with laparoscopic surgery for elective colon cancer resections in a prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial. Methods This study is a single-centre randomized controlled superiority trial with 50 colon cancer participants. The primary endpoint is the level of systemic inflammatory response expressed as serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels between postoperative days one and three. Secondary endpoints include (i) levels of systemic inflammation in serum expressed by a panel of inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines measured during the first three postoperative days, (ii) postoperative surgical and medical complications (30 days) according to Clavien-Dindo classification and Comprehensive Complication Index, (iii) intraoperative blood loss, (iv) conversion rate to open surgery, (v) length of surgery, (vi) operative time, (vii) the number of harvested lymph nodes, and (viii) length of hospital stay. The exploratory endpoints are (i) levels of peritoneal inflammatory response in peritoneal fluid expressed by inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines between postoperative day one and three, (ii) patient-reported health-related quality of recovery-15 (QoR-15), (iii) 30 days mortality rate, (iv) heart rate variability and (v) gene transcript (mRNA) analysis. Discussion To our knowledge, this is the first clinical randomized controlled trial to clarify the inflammatory stress response induced by robot-assisted or laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer resections. Trial registration This trial is registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (Identifier: NCT04687384) on December, 29, 2020, Regional committee on health research ethics, Region of Southern Denmark (N75709) and Data Protection Agency, Hospital Sønderjylland, University Hospital of Southern Denmark (N20/46179).
Abstract Aim Robotic-assisted ventral hernia repair (rVHR) has become an attractive alternative to current laparoscopic and open procedures. The present study aims to determine short-and long-term complications following rVHR Material and Methods Patients undergoing rVHR from 01/01 2017 until 21/06 2020 were identified from the electronic medical record system. The medical case notes were reviewed and a telephone interview conducted to determine short and long-term complications. Patients with symptoms related to the repair were examined by a specialist in hernia surgery. US or CT scan was performed to determine the presence of absence of complications Results 85 patients were included. Mean age was 57.8 years, 54 were males (63.5%). Mean ASA-score was 2.12 and BMI was 30.2 kg/m2. 11 patients (13%) had diabetes, 22 (26%) were active smokers, 37 (44%) had hypertension and 7 (8%) were taking anti-coagulants. The mean hernial defect was 16.1 cm2 and the mesh size was 205.4 cm2. Mean length of stay was 0.5 days and the follow-up time was 94 weeks. Hematoma was encountered in 10 (11.8%) patients. 8 (9.4%) reported of seroma and 1 (1.2%) of a superficial wound infection complicated by skin necrosis. 5 patients (5.9%) reported of chronic pain. 2 patients (2.3%) developed recurrence. Conclusions The study demonstrates that rVHR is feasible and associated with few complications and a very low recurrence rate. Patients who had pain before surgery were likely to have less pain following the procedure. Due to the short hospital stay the procedure is suitable as an outpatient procedure.
Perforation is a known but rare complication to Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES). Most of the perforations are located in the periampullary area due to ES. This report presents an unusual perforation in the third part of the duodenum following ES. The patient an eigthy-sixt-year-old man underwent ERCP with ES. The patient had Magnetic Resonance Cholangio-pancreatography (MRCP) and Computerized Tomography (CT) verified cholelithiasis and intra- and extrahepatic cholestasis. The perforation was not found under the ERCP procedure but was clinically revealed when the patient developed pneumoscrotum after the procedure. A CT-scan with oral contrast later confirmed the duodenal perforation.