Instituting a robot-assisted surgery programme at a tertiary care cancer centre

Int J Med Robot. 2010 Sep;6(3):330-3. doi: 10.1002/rcs.339.

Abstract

Background: The initial experience of a gynaecological oncology robotic surgery programme at a tertiary care cancer centre is described.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the perioperative outcomes of 76 patients offered robot-assisted surgery.

Results: Seventy-three patients underwent robot-assisted surgery; three cases were converted to laparotomy; 51% of patients underwent treatment for endometrial cancer; 18% had ovarian cancer risk reduction surgery; and 8% were treated for uterine leiomyomata. Median body mass index (BMI) was 30. Median estimated blood loss, operative time, and length of stay were 150 ml, 195 min and 1 day, respectively. The total major complication rate was 6.8% and the total minor complication rate was 15.1%.

Conclusion: Robot-assisted surgery is safe and appropriate for gynaecological patients undergoing surgical management. A gynaecological oncology robot-assisted programme can be easily established in a tertiary care cancer centre.

MeSH terms

  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Education, Medical*
  • Humans
  • Laparoscopy / methods*
  • Laparoscopy / standards
  • Motor Activity*
  • Robotics / methods*
  • Robotics / standards
  • Students, Medical
  • Surgical Procedures, Operative / methods
  • Surgical Procedures, Operative / standards
  • Task Performance and Analysis
  • Time Factors
  • User-Computer Interface