Safety profile and oncological outcomes of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) robotic resection: Single center experience

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although usefulness of robot assisted surgery has been largely reported and accepted, robot assisted gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) treatment is rare. Hence, the aim of this study is to report a single center evaluation on gastric GIST's robotic resection. METHODS: Six patients were analyzed focusing on safe (conversion/complications rate, hospital stay), oncological (margin resection, recurrence rate), and feasible (operative time, technical tip, and tricks) profile of robotic-assisted GIST surgery. RESULTS: The mean operative time and hospital stay was 173 ± 39 minutes and 3 ± 1 days, respectively. The conversion rate (to open or laparoscopy) was nil, and no intra and postoperative (mean follow-up 12 months) complications were registered. In all cases, the resections were classified as R0. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the usefulness of robotic-assisted surgery, as the anatomical hand-sewn reconstruction might avoid the stomach distortion, and the oncological (100% R0) and safety profile outcomes encourage its use. However, further studies with larger sample size are recommended to confirm the outcomes of this study.