Totally minimally invasive radical gastrectomy with the da Vinci Xi robotic system versus straight laparoscopy for gastric adenocarcinoma.

Background: Data regarding the outcomes of pure minimally invasive techniques of radical gastrectomy are scarce. We aimed to compare short-term post-operative outcomes in patients undergoing totally minimally invasive radical gastrectomy with the da Vinci Xi robotic system versus straight laparoscopy for gastric adenocarcinoma.

Methods: Between December 2013 and March 2018, robotic and laparoscopic radical gastrectomy performed in two centres were included. Both groups were compared with respect to perioperative short-term outcomes.

Results: Ninety-four patients were included in the study. Anticoagulant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy use were higher in the robotic group (p = 0.02, p = 0.02). There were conversions in the laparoscopy group whereas no conversions occurred in the robotic group (p = 0.052). Operating time in the robotic group was longer (p = 0.001). The number of harvested lymph nodes in the laparoscopic group was higher (p = 0.047).

Conclusion: Totally robotic technique with the da Vinci Xi robotic system provides similar short-term results compared to laparoscopic surgery in radical gastrectomy.