Full RAMIE vs Hybrid RAMIE: a retrospective study on outcomes evaluation and cost considerations

To compare the results of Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy performed with a Fully Robot-Assisted technique (F-RAMIE) and a Hybrid approach with laparoscopic abdominal phase (H-RAMIE). Multicentric retrospective analysis of patients who underwent F-RAMIE and H-RAMIE between 2018 and 2023. The primary endpoint was the rate of postoperative complications, secondary endpoints were clinical outcomes, oncological results and costs. Survival analyses were calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method. The economic evaluation included costs related to operating room time, length of stay, surgical tools, and robotic system maintenance. A total of 100 patients from two experienced surgical centers were included: 64 H-RAMIE and 36 F-RAMIE. The two groups were comparable in baseline clinical conditions and staging. F-RAMIE was associated with longer operative time (434.7 ± 46.4 Vs. 477.3 ± 47.5 min, p < 0.001) and shorter length of Intensive Care Unit stay (1.1 ± 1.1 Vs. 2.3 ± 2.3 days, p = 0.002) than H-RAMIE. There were no significant differences in conversion rate, postoperative complications and length of stay. F-RAMIE demonstrated superior lymph node retrieval (43.8 ± 15.2 Vs. 22.4 ± 10.3, p < 0.001), but no differences in R0 resection rates. Overall survival and recurrences were comparable. Cost analysis revealed a slight economic advantage for F-RAMIE (20,556.3 ± 3,601.2 € Vs. 23,302.4 ± 5,894.5 € p = 0.012), mainly due to hospital stay-related cost (11,267.6 ± 5,912.8 € for H-RAMIE Vs. 8,360.3 ± 3,550.6 €, p = 0.007). F-RAMIE and H-RAMIE proved to be equally safe and effective in terms of postoperative complications and oncological outcomes.