Efficacy of robotic surgery in liver resections: oncological outcomes and quality of life

Introduction: Hepatic resection is a crucial surgical intervention for the treatment of hepatic neoplasms, such as hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal metastases. Recently, robotic surgery has emerged as a promising alternative to traditional techniques, offering greater surgical precision and potentially improving clinical and oncological outcomes. Objective: The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the efficacy of robotic hepatic resection in comparison to open and laparoscopic surgical approaches, with a focus on oncological outcomes and patient quality of life. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases to identify studies published between 2013 and 2023 that compared robotic hepatic resections with traditional approaches, focusing on oncological outcomes and postoperative quality of life. Results: The results show that robotic hepatic resection achieves tumor-free margins (R0) in up to 96% of cases, comparable or superior to open and laparoscopic techniques. Tumor recurrence rates were also slightly lower with robotic surgery. Additionally, the robotic technique presented a lower incidence of postoperative complications, with faster recovery and improved quality of life. Discussion and Conclusion: Robotic surgery offers significant advantages in terms of surgical precision, safety, and postoperative recovery. However, challenges such as high costs and the learning curve remain. Additional studies, including randomized clinical trials, are necessary to confirm these findings and expand the clinical indications for robotic hepatic resection.