Robotic‐Assisted Versus Laparoscopic‐Assisted Colectomy: Findings on Short‐Term Outcomes From A Multi‐Institutional Propensity Score‐Matched Study

The present study compared the short-term outcomes and perioperative complications of robotic-assisted colectomy (RAC) and laparoscopic-assisted colectomy (LAC) in patients with colon cancer. This retrospective study included patients with histologically confirmed colon adenocarcinoma who underwent either RAC or LAC at five medical centers in Taiwan over the period between January 2015 and December 2021. Baseline characteristics, perioperative outcomes, and complications were obtained from operative notes and medical records. A total of 838 patients were included, with 413 undergoing RAC and 425 undergoing LAC. In the original study cohort, right colectomies and sigmoid colectomies were more frequent in the RAC group. In the matched study cohort, the median operative time was significantly longer in the RAC group (p = 0.0065), particularly in the subgroup undergoing left and sigmoid colectomies (p < 0.0001). Conversion rates were similar between the groups (p = 0.0616). Postoperative length of stay was significantly shorter in the RAC group by 1 day (p = 0.0299). Although overall postoperative complications, 30-day mortality, and local recurrence rates were comparable between the groups (all p > 0.05), the patients undergoing right hemicolectomy had a significantly lower complication rate in the RAC group (p = 0.0018). This study is the first multi-institutional propensity score-matched investigation in Taiwan comparing short-term outcomes between RAC and LAC. Our findings suggest that RAC is a safe and feasible alternative to LAC, offering comparable oncological safety with potential advantages such as a reduced length of hospital stay.