Clinical outcomes and cost-benefit analysis comparing laparoscopic and robotic colorectal surgeries.

BACKGROUND: The introduction of minimally invasive platforms for colorectal surgery-laparoscopy and more recently robotics-allows for smaller incisions, shortened hospital stay, less postoperative pain, and quicker return to normal activity. There exists a lack of evidence-based knowledge comparing the clinical outcomes and cost-benefit analysis of the different types of minimally invasive surgery. The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the short-term clinical outcomes and overall hospital costs between laparoscopic and robotic colorectal surgery.

METHODS: After IRB approval, we conducted a retrospective chart review from 131 patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal surgery and 96 patients who underwent robotic colorectal surgery. Data analyzed included pertinent patient demographics, operative times (OR times), conversion rates, postoperative pathology, complications, length of hospital stay, 90-day readmission rates, 30-day mortality, and overall hospital costs.

RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-seven patients were included-laparoscopic (N = 131) and robotic (N = 96) colorectal surgeries. Mean age of patients in the laparoscopic versus robotic cohort was 70.9 vs 63.6 years, (p < 0.001). Around 62 % were operated on for malignant disease. Mean OR time was 113 min for laparoscopy and 109 min for robotics, p = 0.59. Conversion rates were comparable. Mean length of hospital stay (6.6 vs 5.7 days) and postoperative complications (3.2 vs 7 %) were comparable between the laparoscopic and robotic arms. Overall hospital charges were $114,853 for laparoscopy and $107,220 for robotics, and no significant difference was noted (p = 0.448, NS).

CONCLUSION: Robotic colectomies were comparable to laparoscopic colectomies in terms of overall hospital charges and short-term clinical outcomes, including length of stay and conversion rates. Robotic surgery was favored for left-sided colectomy. With shorter learning curves and wider availability, robotic approach offers a safe and economically feasible minimally invasive platform for complex colorectal resections.