Computer-enhanced robotic surgery in gynecologic oncology

Background: This study aimed to report the computer-enhanced robotic surgery experience of the authors' gynecologic oncology division. Methods: From January 2001 to August 2006, 41 patients underwent laparoscopic surgery by our gynecologic oncology service using a computer-enhanced surgical robot. This report describes a retrospective review of these patients. Results: The patients ranged in age from 27 to 77 years (mean, 44.2 years), in weight from 44 to 131 kg (mean, 72.1 kg), in operative time from 1 h and 50 min to 9 h (mean, 5 h and 2 min), and in estimated blood loss from 50 to 1,500 ml (mean, 253 ml). Of the 20 patients with gynecologic malignancies, 14 had cervical cancer. A total of 21 patients had benign indications for surgery. Complications included shoulder palsy, robot failure, colotomy, bradycardia, and intraabdominal bleeding requiring minilaparotomy and ligation of a bleeding pedicle. Conclusion: This case series is one of the first to report the use of a computer-enhanced surgical robot in gynecologic oncology. This approach proved to be feasible and well tolerated in this series of patients and deserves further study for clarification of its indications, benefits, and safety.