Short‐Term Outcomes and Quality of Life After Robotic Versus Laparoscopic Double‐Flap Technique for Proximal Gastrectomy: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: Robotic systems may facilitate the double-flap technique (DFT) after proximal gastrectomy (PG), yet the superiority of robotic DFT following PG (RPG-DFT) over laparoscopic PG with DFT (LPG-DFT) remains unclear. METHODS: Seventy-three gastric cancer patients (28 RPG-DFT, 45 LPG-DFT) were compared for baseline characteristics, perioperative outcomes, and 3-month postoperative data. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease-Health Related Quality of Life (GERD-HRQL) and weight loss are postoperative primary endpoints. RESULTS: RPG-DFT had significantly longer operative time (308.3 vs. 204.5 min, p < 0.0001) but shorter postoperative hospital stay (6.21 vs. 8.13 days, p < 0.0001). By postoperative day 3, RPG-DFT showed faster decline in inflammatory markers (NLR, PLR, MLR, SII). No significant differences were observed in reflux symptoms or anastomotic stenosis rates. CONCLUSION: Compared to LPG-DFT, RPG-DFT facilitates accelerated patient recovery, as evidenced by a rapid decline in inflammatory markers and reduced length of hospital stay.