R-LESS right colectomy with the single-site® robotic platform

Konstantinos Konstantinidis, Savvas Hirides, Perikles Chrysoheris, Fotis Antonakopoulos, Petros Hirides

Use of robotics has exemplified single-site procedures by restoring the correct hand-instrument alignment and providing stable, stereoscopic visual field. Technique was initially introduced by the manufacturers for cholecystectomy, but experienced teams quickly extended the indications to more complex procedures. We hereby present a case of a patient that underwent robotic right colectomy and omentectomy through the single-site(®) platform. A single-site procedure was offered to our 58-year-old male patient with carcinoma of the ascending colon and he gave written consent for it. The VESPA(®) single-site platform was used according to the standards of the manufacturing company. The single-site port(®) was placed at the umbilicus. Rest of setup and procedure steps were based on the multiport technique. An extended omentectomy accompanying the right colectomy has not previously reported to our knowledge. After sufficient mobilization specimen was exteriorized through the umbilicus, excised and the anastomosis was performed using linear staplers. Console time was 164 min and total operation time was 221 min. Intraoperatively, there was no need for conversion, additional ports or blood transfusions. Total console time was 164 min. Lacking of wristed instruments and bipolar energy were regarded as serious limitations. No drains were used. Patient did not require ICU stay and had no postoperative complaints. He was given liquid diet on PO day #2 and he was discharged on PO day #4. Robotic single-site right colectomy is safe and feasible in selected cases. Experience from single-site robotic cholecystectomy is a useful basis to expand the indications to more complex procedures. Further development of the instruments and large number of cases may justify the indications for using this technique in the future.