Robotic extraperitoneal stoma closure with left hemicolectomy for descending colon cancer following abdominoperineal resection: A case report

Extraperitoneal colostomy is often selected to reduce the risk of parastomal hernia. However, its closure surgery is rare and seldom reported. Here, we report our unique experience with robotic left hemicolectomy and extraperitoneal colostomy closure. An 83-year-old female was diagnosed with descending colon cancer with stenosis. She had previously undergone abdominoperineal resection with extraperitoneal colostomy. After improving the intestinal obstruction with a self-expanding stent, we performed robotic left hemicolectomy and extraperitoneal colostomy closure. Thanks to the multijoint function of the robot, which enables the forceps to be angled up to 90° in all directions, we could dissect the stoma from the abdominal wall up to just beneath the rectus abdominis in an intra-abdominal procedure without enlarging the skin incision. This case suggests that robotic surgery with the articulating function is beneficial for procedures near the abdominal wall ceiling and effective for extraperitoneal colostomy closure.