Stereotactic navigation and augmented reality for transanal total mesorectal excision?

Abstract

superior to the numerous recently published reviews on the topic.When analysing the outcome of robotic surgery, too often we read the message that it is safe and feasible but too costly to be chosen over laparoscopy.Indeed, we keep answering the important clinical patient-oriented question 'What are the surgical and clinical advantages of robot-assisted rectal surgery?' with a reply based on an often biased cost-effectiveness analysis.Robotic surgery may indeed be expensive but the landscape is changing and surgeons are starting to apply robotics in a cost-effective way by decreasing the number of instruments used, being faster in docking and undocking and getting dedicated personnel in the robotic room.It is thus too early to discourage the adoption of robotic surgery solely based on the early experience of a few specialized centres.On the contrary, further clinical trials are required to address the question whether the robotic approach should increase, thanks to its advanced technology, the currently small number of patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery [3,4] and the improved oncological and surgical results of rectal cancer resection [1].If such studies were conducted it is almost certain that robotic surgery would be justified despite the cost.