Total abdominal proctocolectomy: what is new with the da Vinci Xi?

Ultrasound optic nerve sheath diameter evaluation in patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic pelvic surgery Abstract Following the interesting reading of the article “A randomised trial to compare the increase in intracranial pressure as correlated with the optic nerve sheath diameter during propofol versus sevoflurane-maintained anesthesia in robot-assisted laparoscopic pelvic surgery”, the authors comment some aspects about ocular ultrasonography to measure optic nerve sheath diameter as a tool to detect potential intracranial hypertension, pointing out the utility of Standardized A Scan technique for this purpose.

Senhance 3-mm robot-assisted surgery: experience on first 14 patients in France Abstract The objective of this article is to present our experience with the 3-mm instruments using the Senhance surgical robotic system in gynecological and abdominal surgery from July to December 2017 by a retrospective observational study. All patients who underwent a robot-assisted 3-mm laparoscopic procedure with the Senhance surgical robotic system were enrolled. Two separate populations were involved: nine female gynecological patients and five digestive surgery patients. Five cholecystectomies, three annexectomies, four ovarian cystectomies, one myomectomy and one endometriotic nodule resection were performed. For the gynecological cases, the median time spent at the console was 37 min (12–77), while the total duration of the intervention was 81.33 min. All the interventions were performed on an outpatient basis. There were no postoperative complications. The average visual analog scale for pain (VAS) was 2.11 (± 1.91) on D0. For the abdominal surgery cases, the median time was 39 min (21–64). The average total duration of the intervention was 87.4 min (± 36.82). One of the five interventions was performed on an outpatient basis. There was one laparoscopy conversion. No postoperative complications in the 2 weeks following the operation. There are few 3-mm instruments available with the Senhance surgical robotic system, which limits the number of interventions. However, it is possible to perform gynecological interventions with 3-mm instruments on an outpatient basis in complete safety. It is possible to perform cholecystectomies by pairing the use of 3-mm and 5-mm instruments. The recent arrival of new 3-mm instruments will enable a wider range of surgical indications.

Re: What is the role of NeuroSAFE in robotic radical prostatectomy?

Robotic resection of the uncinate process of the pancreas Abstract Since the development of the robotic platform, the number of robotic-assisted surgeries has significantly increased. Robotic surgery has gained growing acceptance in recent years, expanding to pancreatic resection. Here, we report a total robotic resection of the uncinate process of the pancreas performed in a patient with a cystic neuroendocrine tumor. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a robotic resection of the uncinate process of the pancreas. A 46-year-old man with no specific medical history was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor after undergoing routine imaging. Biopsy guided by echoendoscopy revealed a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor. We decided to perform a robotic resection of the uncinate process of the pancreas after obtaining informed consent for the procedure. According to preoperative echoendoscopy and magnetic resonance imaging, there was a safe margin between the neoplasm and the main pancreatic duct. The technique uses five ports. The duodenum is fully mobilized, and Kocher maneuver is carefully performed. The uncinate process of the pancreas is then identified. The resection of the uncinate process begins with the division of small arterial branches from the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery in its inferior portion, followed by control of venous tributaries to the superior mesenteric vein. Intraoperative localization of the ampulla of Vater is performed using indocyanine green enhanced fluorescence, thus defining the superior margin of the uncinate process. The pancreatic division is made about 5 mm below its upper margin for safety. Surgical specimen is then retrieved through the umbilical port inside a plastic bag. The raw pancreatic area is covered with hemostatic tissue and drained. The total operation time was 215 min. The docking time was 8 min and console time was 180 min. Blood loss was minimum, estimated at less than 50 mL. The postoperative period was uneventful, except for hyperamylasemia in the drain fluid. The patient was discharged on the 3rd postoperative day. The final pathological report confirmed well-differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. Robotic resection of the uncinate process of the pancreas is safe and feasible, providing parenchymal conservation in a minimally invasive setting. Robotic resection should be considered for patients suffering from low-grade pancreatic neoplasms located in this part of the pancreas.

A rare indication of robot-assisted uretero-ureterostomy: ovarian vein syndrome Abstract Ovarian vein syndrome is a rare cause of ureteral obstruction. Most of these cases occur during pregnancy likely from the gravid uterus causing ovarian vein dilatation and valvular incompetence. Hormonal changes associated with pregnancy also affect the muscular wall of ureter, causing decrease in tone and may facilitate compression as well. There is a predilection for right side and in thin females. The traditional treatment has been the ligation of ovarian vein and ureterolysis. We report a case of ovarian vein syndrome in a young female which was managed by robot-assisted laparoscopic ovarian vein ligation, resection of stenosed ureteric segment and end-to-end ureterostomy.

Exploration of robotic-assisted surgical techniques in vascular surgery Abstract Robotic-assisted surgical approaches for vascular surgery are feasible regarding minimally invasive exposure, dissection, ligation and skeletonization for varicose vein ligation, anterior spine exposure, femoral-popliteal bypass, femoral vein harvest and aortic aneurysm repair. The authors performed a cadaveric exploration to demonstrate proof of concept and feasibility for a robotic-assisted approached. Surgeon autonomy over endoscopic vision, robotic instrumentation and retraction were noted as key benefits over existing open vascular approaches. Robotic-assisted approaches for vascular surgery enable innovative minimally invasive approaches to disease states not amenable to endovascular repair. Potential reductions in paresthesia through nerve identification were noted during a cadaveric exploration for varicose vein ligation in the setting of chronic venous insufficiency. Minimally invasive femoral artery exposure via a retroperitoneal approach could potentially reduce the morbidity associated with the traditional groin incision. Further exploration and procedure refinement are warranted.

Reduction in postoperative ileus rates utilizing lower pressure pneumoperitoneum in robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy Abstract Robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is the most commonly performed surgery for prostate cancer. This is a study comparing differences in postoperative outcomes between pneumoperitoneum pressures of 15 mmHg and 12 mmHg. Retrospective chart review was performed on 400 patients undergoing RARP over a 5 year period. A combination of Fisher’s exact test and ANOVA were utilized for statistical analysis. Age, BMI, Gleason score, positive margin rate, complication rates, blood loss, and operative times were similar in both groups. Length of stay and postoperative ileus rates were significantly less in the 12 mmHg group (p < 0.05). RARP can be safely performed utilizing a lower pressure pneumoperitoneum. Decreasing insufflation pressures from 15 to 12 mmHg can further lead to decreased rates of postoperative ileus.

Robotic duodeno-duodenostomy creation in a pediatric patient with idiopathic duodenal stricture Abstract Duodenal stenosis is one of the leading causes of duodenal obstruction in the pediatric population, usually diagnosed in newborns and in Down syndrome patients. It has historically been treated with duodeno-duodenostomy, an operation that is now commonly performed laparoscopically. We present a case of a 10-year-old child with a rare chromosomal abnormality who was diagnosed with a duodenal stricture after presenting with failure to thrive and inability to tolerate tube feeds. Duodeno-duodenostomy was performed using the da Vinci® robot, allowing for improved intra-operative range of motion and control during anastomosis creation, with the same cosmetic benefits of laparoscopic surgery, and subsequent improvement in symptoms postoperatively. This case highlights the utility of robotic surgery in complex operations in the pediatric population.

Safe adoption of robotic colorectal surgery using structured training: early Irish experience Abstract Robotic surgery enhances the precision of minimally invasive surgery through improved three-dimensional views and articulated instruments. There has been increasing interest in adopting this technology to colorectal surgery and this has recently been introduced to the Irish health system. This paper gives an account of our early institutional experience with adoption of robotic colorectal surgery using structured training. Analysis was conducted of a prospectively maintained database of our first 55 consecutive robotic colorectal cases, performed by four colorectal surgeons, each at the beginning of his robotic surgery experience, using the Da Vinci Si® system and undergoing training as per the European Academy of Robotic Colorectal Surgery (EARCS) programme. Overall surgical and oncological outcomes were interrogated. Fifty-five patients underwent robotic surgery between January 2017 and January 2018, M:F 34:21, median age (range) 60 (35–87) years. Thirty-three patients had colorectal cancer and 22 had benign pathologies. Eleven rectal cancer patients had neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. BMI was > 30 in 21.8% of patients and 56.4% of patients had previous abdominal surgery. Operative procedures performed were low anterior resection (n = 19), sigmoid colectomy (n = 9), right colectomy (n = 22), ventral mesh rectopexy (n = 3), abdominoperineal resection (n = 1) and reversal of Hartmann’s procedure (n = 1). Median blood loss was 40 ml (range 0–400). Mean operative time (minutes) was 233 (SD 79) for right colectomy and 368 (SD 105) for anterior resection. Median length of hospital stay was 6 days (IQR 5–7). There was no 30-day mortality, intraoperative complications, conversion to laparoscopic or open, or anastomotic leakage. Median lymph nodes harvest was 15 in non-neoadjuvant cases (range 7–23) and 8 in neoadjuvant cases (2–14). Our early results demonstrate that colorectal robotic surgery can be adopted safely for both benign and neoplastic conditions using a structured training programme without compromising clinical or oncological outcomes. The early learning curve can be time intensive.