Anthony M Gonzalez, MD FACS FASMBS, Jorge R Rabaza, MD FACS FASMBS, Carmen Rodriguez, RN MSHSA, Maria Fuego, RN BSN. South Miami Hospital, Baptist Health South Florida, South Miami, Florida
Research has argued that robotic surgery not only provides patients with the same long-term postoperative benefits, but a lowered threat of surgical complications (Snyder, Wilson, T., Leong, Wilson, E.B., 2009). In a bariatric surgical program with over 2,500 laparoscopic cases, the impact of introducing robotic technology to the weight loss surgery armamentarium is unknown. Therefore, we chose to perform a descriptive analysis of our current robotic surgeries.
Starting August 2009, 144 selected bariatric procedures were performed through robotic technology–gastric bypasses (n=83), sleeve gastrectomies (n=38), gastric bands (n=13), and revisions (n=10). All patients were selected using standard National Institute of Health (NIH) guidelines and all preparations were performed to program standards.
Of 144 cases the mean BMI was 44.65+7.08, and the mean age was 43.36+12.44. The mean length of stay (days) by procedure was: 2.21+.84 for gastric bypasses, 2.37+1.63 for sleeve gastrectomies, 98+.02 for gastric bands, and 6.10+4.18 for revisions. Average surgical time (minutes) by procedure was: 160.04+68.53 for gastric bypasses, 179.16+73.92 for sleeve gastrectomies, 134.31+53.69 for gastric bands, and 176.90 +63.31for revisions. There were 13 complications: 3 sleeve gastrectomies, 5 revisions, and 10 gastric bypasses.
The addition of the robot in the performance of bariatric surgery has demonstrated acceptable outcomes and safety. It could be argued that the complications experienced are unrelated to the robotic technology specifically but to surgery in general. This descriptive review began the exploration of benefits of robotic bariatric surgery in this program; next steps could include evaluating its efficiency and efficacy in bariatric surgery.
Session Number: SS22 – Robotics
Program Number: S126