Efficacy and Safety of Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Benign Gallbladder Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Cholelithiasis is a prevalent benign gallbladder disorder that poses significant public health concerns. Robotic-assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy (RAC) has recently emerged as an innovative technique designed to improve the precision and efficiency of conventional laparoscopic surgery. This systematic review and meta-analysis seeks to evaluate the comparative safety and effectiveness of RAC in relation to standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Methods: This review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Literature searches were performed across PubMed, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, and Wiley databases. Eligible studies included both published and unpublished works that compared RAC with LC. Data synthesis was carried out using Review Manager version 5.4, and methodological quality was appraised through the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS). Results: A total of eight cohort studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled analysis indicated significant differences in hospital stay and conversion rates between RAC and LC [MD = -0.44, 95% CI: -0.78 to -0.10, p = 0.010; OR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.18–0.70, p = 0.003]. In contrast, no significant differences were observed for length of surgery or postoperative complications [MD = 7.73, 95% CI: -0.17 to 15.64, p = 0.006; OR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.30–2.08, p = 0.63]. Conclusion: RAC represents a safe and effective option to LC, with particular advantages for certain patient groups.