Open vs robotic radical gastrectomy for locally advanced gastric cancer

Background This study aims to evaluate the immediate outcomes of robotic and open gastrectomy for patients with locally advanced gastric adenocarcinomas. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on patients undergoing curative intent gastrectomies between 2004 and 2013 in our department. Operative and postoperative outcomes as well as long-term survival data were analysed. Results Two groups of patients were analysed: the robotic group (n=18) and the open surgery group (n=29). Operating time in the robotic group (320.833 +/- 85.186 min) was significantly longer (p=0.0004) as compared with the open group (243.366 +/- 57.973 min). The number of retrieved lymph nodes was not statistically different between the two groups (p=0.108) and neither was the rate of postoperative complications (p=0.294). Conclusions Robotic gastrectomy is a safe procedure, with satisfactory short-and long-term outcomes in locally advanced gastric cancer. Studies on a larger number of patients are necessary in order to confirm whether an immediate benefit in survival exists due to robotic surgery. Copyright (C) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.