2023 Volume 76 Issue 10 Pages 608-613
Robotic surgery for colorectal cancer has been covered by the medical insurance system in Japan since April 2018 for rectal cancer and since April 2022 for colon cancer, and is rapidly becoming popular nationwide. The number of cases of rectal/colon surgery performed in Japan by organ differs greatly due to differences in the timing of insurance coverage. The number of rectal cancer surgeries performed worldwide is higher than that of colon surgeries. Robotic surgery is classified as a minimally invasive procedure similar to conventional laparoscopy, but it is more expensive than laparoscopic surgery, so superiority must be demonstrated. However, robotic surgery is a relatively new procedure with insufficient evidence worldwide. In recent years, the results of clinical trials with large numbers of patients designed during the period of widespread use of robot-assisted surgery have been reported. However, reports on short-term outcomes are still the main focus; reports on long-term outcomes are scarce. This article describes the current evidence comparing robot-assisted surgery and conventional laparoscopic surgery.
