Does robotic TME bring difference in lymph node yield and quality of TME?

• Published in: ANZ journal of surgery 2023-12, Vol.93 (12), p.2946-2950
• Main Authors: Votava, Jan, Kachlík, David, Pazdírek, Filip, Grega, Marek, Vjaclovský, Michal, Hoch, Jiří
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemoradiotherapy; Humans; Laparoscopy - methods; Lymph nodes; Lymph Nodes - pathology; Lymph Nodes - surgery; Lymphatic system; Patients; Rectal Neoplasms - pathology; Rectal Neoplasms - surgery; Rectum; Retrospective Studies; robotic surgery; Robotic Surgical Procedures - methods; robotic TME; Robotics; TME; TME quality; total mesorectal excision; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1445-1433; 1445-2197; 1445-2197
• DOI: 10.1111/ans.18667

Backgrounds Oncological outcomes of the robotic low anterior rectal resection with total mesorectal excision (TME) are still under discussion. Few studies have proven that robotic TME (rTME) is a safe and equivalent method for treatment of rectal carcinoma. But there is almost no comparison between the rTME and conventional TME in terms of the number of lymph nodes obtained and the quality of the TME. Methods A single institution retrospective study was designed in a cohort of 261 patients. Cohort was divided into two groups depending on the type of surgery (rTME versus TME) and within these two groups, patients were divided according to whether they underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCHRT) or did not. The primary objective of the study was to compare obtained number of the lymph nodes in specimen. Secondary objectives were comparison of the quality of the TME and the number of positive circumferential resection margins. Results Results of the study have shown no significant difference in number of the lymph nodes obtained by the rTME and TME. There was no difference in the quality of the TME, neither in the group with the previous nCHRT nor in the group without a nCHRT. Conclusion With results from the study we consider the rTME to be non‐inferior to the conventional TME. Therefore, at least identical oncological results can be expected in patients treated by the rTME. This article shows results from single institution retrospective study on a cohort of 261 patients comparing obtained number of the lymph nodes and the quality of the TME depending on the type of surgery (robotic TME versus open TME) and previous neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCHRT).