Evaluating trends and outcomes between robotic and laparoscopic bariatric surgery in patients with BMI ≥ 60 kg/m2: an MBSAQIP analysis of 32,295 cases

In patients with a BMI ≥ 60 kg/m2 undergoing elective bariatric surgery, there were no significant differences in 30-day postoperative outcomes between laparoscopic and robotic approaches despite baseline patient differences between groups. Although operative times were 27% longer for the robotic approach, its utilization increased substantially over the study period. These findings suggest that perioperative outcomes in this high-risk population are primarily determined by patient comorbidities and procedural factors rather than surgical approach, and that neither approach demonstrates superior short-term safety.