Current status of minimally invasive surgery for gastric cancer: A literature review to highlight studies limits. Int J Surg. 2015;17:34-40. [PMID: 25758348 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2015.02.021]

Reversible Lubricating Layer for Improving the Endoscope Field with High Transparency and Antipollution Property

Endoscopes, a minimally invasive medical tool, are susceptible to impaired visibility due to the adhesion of biological fluids. However, traditional self-cleaning coatings face limitations in terms of transparency and sustainability, making it difficult to apply them to lenses. Inspired by the phospholipid layer of the eye, a reversible lubricating layer (RL-layer) with low-adhesion and high-transparency properties is reported. Even coagulated blood can be easily removed due to the low surface tension and easy swing of the brushes. In addition, the silicon-oxygen bonds can be cleaved by fluoride ions, thereby achieving reversible modification and showing potential in sustainable usage. To prove the concept, biomimetic endoscopic lenses are employed in vivo experiments. The results indicate that it consistently maintains a clear vision in narrow spaces containing mucus and exhibits excellent biocompatibility. The reversible lubricating layer provides valuable reference significance for self-cleaning coatings in other fields.

Association between textbook outcome and long-term survival among patients undergoing curative-intent resection of gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

A single metric does not sufficiently capture the multidimensional and complex perioperative nature of treatment for patients with gastric cancer. There is a newly developed composite indicator, called textbook outcome, that reflects the "ideal" surgical outcome. However, limited evidence exists for the long-term prognosis of textbook outcome in patients with gastric cancer. Thus, this study was aimed at assessing the association between textbook outcome and long-term oncologic prognosis after gastrectomy.

METHODS

In total, 2,658 consecutive patients who underwent gastrectomy between January 2004 and December 2017 were included. The primary endpoint was 5-year conditional survival (if the patient survived the first 30 days after surgery). Textbook outcome was defined as retrieved ≥15 lymph nodes, pR0 resection, complete-potentially curative resection during operation, hospitalization ≤21 days, no reinterventions, no severe postoperative complications, no hospital readmission ≤30 days after discharge, no unplanned intensive care unit treatment, and no 30-day postoperative mortality. Multivariable analysis was performed to evaluate the adjusted predictors of textbook outcome. A Cox regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between achieving textbook outcome parameters and long-term oncologic prognosis.

RESULTS

A total of 1,770 (66.6%) of the 2,658 patients achieved all textbook outcome metrics in this study. The textbook outcome group displayed a greater 5-year conditional overall survival than the nontextbook outcome group (64.7% vs 40.2%, P < .001). The 5-year conditional disease-free survival of the patients with textbook outcomes was strongly superior to that of the patients without textbook outcomes (63.1% vs 37.6%, P < .001). Textbook outcome was independently associated with longer 5-year conditional overall survival and disease-free survival (hazard ratio 0.494 [0.439-0.557] and hazard ratio 0.487 [0.433-0.547], respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Attaining textbook outcome is strongly related to an improved long-term oncologic prognosis for patients with gastric cancer, underscoring the need for continued efforts to enhance surgical care quality.

Robotic vs. laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer: A propensity score-matched retrospective comparative study at a single institution

BACKGROUND

Although robotic surgery is becoming more widespread worldwide, it is still in its infancy. This study aimed to confirm the safety and feasibility of the induction of robotic-assisted gastric surgery at a local hospital.

METHODS

For five years, between 2016 and 2020, 42 laparoscopic and 71 robotic distal gastrectomies were performed at the same institution. Patients diagnosed with gastric cancer were retrieved from the database. Propensity score matching was performed based on covariates such as Age, Sex, BMI, the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status, Tumor Location, pT, and pN. Clinicopathological characteristics, surgical performance, postoperative outcomes, and pathological data were retrospectively collected and compared by the Chi-square test, the Fisher's exact test, the Student's t-test, and the Mann-Whitney U test.

RESULTS

Billroth II reconstruction was often selected for the robotic group more than the laparoscopic group (59.4% and 15.6%, respectively). In addition, the number of lymph nodes harvested after D2 dissection tended to be more significant in the robotic group than in the laparoscopic group (52.1 ± 7.6 and 29.1 ± 3.7, respectively; p = 0.00934). The mean operative time was 271.4 ± 10.5 min for the robotic group and 220.8 ± 12.3 min for the laparoscopic group (p = 0.00005). There were no differences in short-term clinical outcomes between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Although a single-center, small comparative study, the results showed that the robotic surgery group was not inferior to the laparoscopic group in feasibility and safety. Moreover, robotic surgery enables harvesting a higher number of lymph nodes, which may be more advantageous than laparoscopic surgery. This study also showed that as the surgeon gains experience with robotic surgery, its operative time becomes significantly shorter.

Impaired robotic surgical visualization: archaic issues in a modern operating room

While robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) has been revolutionizing surgical procedures, it has various areas needing improvement, specifically in the visualization sector. Suboptimal vision due to lens occlusions has been a topic of concern in laparoscopic surgery but has not received much attention in robotic surgery. This study is one of the first to explore and quantify the degree of disruption encountered due to poor robotic visualization at a major academic center. In case observations across 28 RAS procedures in various specialties, any lens occlusions or "debris" events that appeared on the monitor displays and clinicians' reactions, the cause, and the location across the monitor for these events were recorded. Data were then assessed for any trends using analysis as described below. From around 44.33 h of RAS observation time, 163 debris events were recorded. 52.53% of case observation time was spent under a compromised visual field. In a subset of 15 cases, about 2.24% of the average observation time was spent cleaning the lens. Additionally, cautery was found to be the primary cause of lens occlusions and little variation was found within the spread of the debris across the monitor display. This study illustrates that in 6 (21.43%) of the cases, 90% of the observation time was spent under compromised visualization while only 2 (7.14%) of the cases had no debris or cleaning events. Additionally, we observed that cleaning the lens can be troublesome during the procedure, interrupting the operating room flow.

Robotic versus laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer in patients with obesity: systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction

The number of overweight patients with gastric cancer (GC) is increasing, and no previous study has compared laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) and robotic gastrectomy (RG) in obese patients with GC. To investigate the perioperative and oncologic outcomes of RG and LG in obese GC patients, we performed a meta-analysis of propensity matched scores and retrospective studies to compare the perioperative parameters, oncologic findings, and short-term postoperative outcomes between the two groups.

Methods

This study was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. A search was performed on PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register to identify eligible propensity matched scores and retrospective studies conducted and published before December 2022. Data on perioperative and oncological outcomes were included in the meta-analysis.

Results

Overall, we identified 1 propensity score match study and 5 randomized control trials of RG and LG, enrolling a total of 718 patients (197 and 521 patients received RG and LG, respectively). No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of complications, bleeding, or lymph node dissection. Of note, RG had a longer procedure time (P = 0.03), earlier oral intake (P = 0.0010), shorter hospital stay (P = 0.0002), and shorter time to defecation (P < 0.00001).

Conclusions

This meta-analysis concluded that patients in the RG group had shorter hospital stays, earlier postoperative feeding, and earlier postoperative ventilation; however, no differences were found in blood loss, number of lymph nodes removed, or overall complications. RG is an effective, safe, and promising treatment for obese patients with GC, compensating for the shortcomings of laparoscopy and allowing for less trauma and faster recovery.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42022298967.

A comparative study on perioperative outcomes between robotic versus laparoscopic D2 total gastrectomy

OBJECTIVE

Robotic surgery has been increasingly used worldwide owing to its advanced features. However, the significant benefits of robotic total gastrectomy (RTG) over laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) have yet to be demonstrated. We conducted a prospective cohort study to compare the safety and efficacy of robotic and laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) with D2 lymphadenectomy for AGC.

METHODS

Between March 26, 2018 and July 30, 2021, 155 patients between 18 and 80 years of age with locally advanced gastric cancer (cT2-4a, N0/+, M0) were enrolled. The perioperative outcomes within 30 days after surgery were compared between the RTG (n = 69) and LTG (n = 73) groups on a per-protocol (PP) basis. Postoperative complications were evaluated according to the Clavien-Dindo classification.

RESULTS

The overall postoperative morbidity rate was 21.74% in the RTG group and 28.77% in the LTG group with no significant difference (P = 0.44), RTG was associated with a lower incidence of pneumonia (4.35% vs. 15.07%, P = 0.047). No mortality was observed in either group. There was no significant difference in the total operative time (284.48 vs. 271.73 min, P = 0.171), but RTG was associated with a lower estimated volume of blood loss (110 vs. 150 ml, P < 0.001) and more total retrieved lymph nodes (LNs) (41.36 vs 35.1, P = 0.019), more extraperigastric LNs (14.91 vs. 12.19, P = 0.024) and more LNs in the suprapancreatic areas (14.68 vs. 11.82, P = 0.017). The laboratory data (amylase, inflammatory, Albumin and T lymphocyte levels) of the RTG group were better than those of the LTG group.

CONCLUSION

According to the results of this prospective cohort study, for patients with locally advanced gastric cancer, Robotic surgery has advantages over laparoscopic surgery for radical total gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy performed by well-trained doctors.

Enhanced recovery after surgery for gastric cancer (ERAS-GC): optimizing patient outcome

Significant advances were achieved, in last decades, in the management of surgical patients with gastric cancer. This has led to the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) with the objective of reducing the length of hospital stay, accelerating postoperative recovery and reducing the surgical stress. The ERAS protocols have many items, including the pre-operative patient education, early mobilization and feeding starting from the first postoperative day. This review aims to highlight possible advantages on postoperative functional recovery outcomes after gastrectomy in patients undergoing an ERAS program, current lack of evidences and future perspectives.

Precision medicine in gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is a complex disease linked to a series of environmental factors and unhealthy lifestyle habits, and especially to genetic alterations. GC represents the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Its onset is subtle, and the majority of patients are diagnosed once the cancer is already advanced. In recent years, there have been innovations in the management of advanced GC including the introduction of new classifications based on its molecular characteristics. Thanks to new technologies such as next-generation sequencing and microarray, the Cancer Genome Atlas and Asian Cancer Research Group classifications have also paved the way for precision medicine in GC, making it possible to integrate diagnostic and therapeutic methods. Among the objectives of the subdivision of GC into subtypes is to select patients in whom molecular targeted drugs can achieve the best results; many lines of research have been initiated to this end. After phase III clinical trials, trastuzumab, anti-Erb-B2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (commonly known as ERBB2) and ramucirumab, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (commonly known as VEGFR2) monoclonal antibodies, were approved and introduced into first- and second-line therapies for patients with advanced/metastatic GC. However, the heterogeneity of this neoplasia makes the practical application of such approaches difficult. Unfortunately, scientific progress has not been matched by progress in clinical practice in terms of significant improvements in prognosis. Survival continues to be low in contrast to the reduction in deaths from many common cancers such as colorectal, lung, breast, and prostate cancers. Although several target molecules have been identified on which targeted drugs can act and novel products have been introduced into experimental therapeutic protocols, the overall approach to treating advanced stage GC has not substantially changed. Currently, surgical resection with adjuvant or neoadjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the most effective treatments for this disease. Future research should not underestimate the heterogeneity of GC when developing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies aimed toward improving patient survival.

The Peritoneum: Beyond the Tissue - A Review

Background: Despite its complexity, the peritoneum is usually underestimated in classical medical texts simply as the surrounding tissue (serous membrane) of the gut. Novel findings on physiology and morphology of the peritoneum and mesothelial cell exist but they are usually focused or limited to Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis research and practice. This review aims to expose, describe and analyze the most recent evidence on the peritoneum’s morphology, embryology and physiology.

Materials and Methods: A literature review was performed on Pubmed and MEDLINE. With no limit of publication date, original papers and literature reviews about the peritoneum, the peritoneal cavity, peritoneal fluid, and mesothelial cells were included (n = 72).

Results: Peritoneum develops in close relationship to the gut from an early period in embryogenesis. Analyzing together the development of the primitive gut and the surrounding mesothelium helps understanding that the peritoneal cavity, the mesenteries and other structures can be considered parts of the peritoneum. However, some authors consider that structures like the mesenteries are different to the peritoneum. The mesothelial cell has a complex ultrastructural organization with intercellular junctions and apical microvilli. This complexity is further proven by the large array of functions like selective fluid and cell transport; physiological protective barrier; immune induction, modulation, and inhibition; tissue repair and scarring; preventing adhesion and tumoral dissemination; cellular migration; and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition capacity.

Conclusion: Recent evidence on the anatomy, histology, and physiology of the peritoneum, shows that this structure is more complex than a simple serous membrane. These results call for a new conceptualization of peritoneum, and highlight the need of adequate research for identifying clinical relevance of this knowledge.

Robotic assisted gastrectomy compared with open resection: a case-matched study

In recent years, increasingly sophisticated tools have allowed for more complex robotic surgery. Robotic gastrectomy, however, is adopted in only a few selected centers. The goals of this study were to examine the adoption of robotic gastrectomy and to compare outcomes between open and robotic gastric resections. This is a case-matched analysis of patients who underwent robotic and open gastric resection performed at Sanchinarro University Hospital, Madrid from November 2011 to February 2017. Patient data were obtained retrospectively. Clinicopathologic characteristics and perioperative and postoperative outcomes were recorded and analyzed. Two groups of demographically similar patients were analyzed: the robotic group (n = 20) and the open surgery group (n = 19). The patient characteristics of the two groups have been compared. Robotic resection resulted in less blood loss, shorter postoperative hospital stay, and a longer operating time. The two groups had similar complication rates. Pathological data were similar for both procedures. Robotic gastrectomy for locally advanced gastric carcinoma is safe, and long-term outcomes are comparable to those patients who underwent open resection. Robotic gastrectomy resulted in a shorter hospital stay, less blood loss and morbidity comparable with the outcomes of open gastrectomy.

Comparative study of clinical efficacy using three-dimensional and two-dimensional laparoscopies in the treatment of distal gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Three-dimensional (3D) laparoscopy has the advantages and characteristics of more radical procedures in the treatment of gastric cancer. The objective of this research was to investigate the short-term efficacy and safety of 3D laparoscopic procedures in the treatment of advanced distal gastric cancer.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 124 patients treated with 3D and two-dimensional (2D) laparoscopic D2 lymphadenectomy for distal gastric cancer at the China Academy of Medical Sciences Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from January 2014 to January 2015. The effects on operative time, bleeding, hospitalization time, complications, and the number of lymph nodes removed were analyzed.

RESULTS

The difference between the general data of the two groups was not statistically significant (P>0.05). In analysis of the subgroups, the number of lymph nodes removed in the 3D laparoscopic group was significantly higher than in the 2D laparoscopic group ([2.52±1.88] vs [2.22±1.80], P=0.001; [2.22±1.80] vs [1.47±1.99], P=0.019). However, the differences among the total number of lymph nodes removed, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative complications, postoperative complications, postoperative recovery time, and postoperative hospital stay were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

3D laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy for distal advanced gastric cancer is safe and feasible.

The principles of the surgical management of gastric cancer

Surgery is the only curative therapy for gastric cancer but most operable gastric cancer presents in a locally advanced stage characterized by tumor infiltration of the serosa or the presence of regional lymph node metastases. Surgery alone is no longer the standard treatment for locally advanced gastric cancer as the prognosis is markedly improved by perioperative chemotherapy. The decisive factor for optimum treatment is the multidisciplinary team specialized in gastric cancer. However, despite multimodal therapy and adequate surgery only 30% of gastric cancer patients are alive at 3 years. This article reviewed the principles of the surgical management of gastric cancer (minimally invasive or open) and how this may optimize multimodal treatment.

Minimally invasive surgery for gastric cancer: A comparison between robotic, laparoscopic and open surgery

AIM

To investigate the role of minimally invasive surgery for gastric cancer and determine surgical, clinical, and oncological outcomes.

METHODS

This is a propensity score-matched case-control study, comparing three treatment arms: robotic gastrectomy (RG), laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG), open gastrectomy (OG). Data collection started after sharing a specific study protocol. Data were recorded through a tailored and protected web-based system. Primary outcomes: harvested lymph nodes, estimated blood loss, hospital stay, complications rate. Among the secondary outcomes, there are: operative time, R0 resections, POD of mobilization, POD of starting liquid diet and soft solid diet. The analysis includes the evaluation of type and grade of postoperative complications. Detailed information of anastomotic leakages is also provided.

RESULTS

The present analysis was carried out of 1026 gastrectomies. To guarantee homogenous distribution of cases, patients in the RG, LG and OG groups were 1:1:2 matched using a propensity score analysis with a caliper = 0.2. The successful matching resulted in a total sample of 604 patients (RG = 151; LG = 151; OG = 302). The three groups showed no differences in all baseline patients characteristics, type of surgery (P = 0.42) and stage of the disease (P = 0.16). Intraoperative blood loss was significantly lower in the LG (95.93 ± 119.22) and RG (117.91 ± 68.11) groups compared to the OG (127.26 ± 79.50, P = 0.002). The mean number of retrieved lymph nodes was similar between the RG (27.78 ± 11.45), LG (24.58 ± 13.56) and OG (25.82 ± 12.07) approach. A benefit in favor of the minimally invasive approaches was found in the length of hospital stay (P < 0.0001). A similar complications rate was found (P = 0.13). The leakage rate was not different (P = 0.78) between groups.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic and robotic surgery can be safely performed and proposed as possible alternative to open surgery. The main highlighted benefit is a faster postoperative functional recovery.

Minimally invasive surgery for gastric cancer: the American experience

BACKGROUND

Minimally invasive surgical techniques are increasingly being implemented in oncologic care. This study assesses the impact of minimally invasive surgery on oncologic and perioperative outcomes in the management of gastric cancer in the USA.

METHODS

From the American College of Surgeons and American Cancer Society National Cancer Data Base, we identified 6427 patients who underwent gastrectomy for cancer from 2010 to 2012. Treatment groups were categorized with an intention-to-treat paradigm as robotic, laparoscopic, and open surgery. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to estimate the impact of the surgical approach on oncologic and perioperative outcomes.

RESULTS

Of patients undergoing definitive surgical intervention, 3.5 % (n = 223) underwent robotic gastrectomy, 23.1 % (n = 1487) underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy, and 73.4 % (n = 4717) underwent open surgery. Minimally invasive gastrectomy was more frequently performed on white (P = 0.018), privately insured patients (P = 0.049) treated at academic centers (P < 0.0001) in the eastern USA (P < 0.0001). After demographics, comorbidities, and tumor-related factors had been controlled for, patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy had the postoperative length of stay decreased by 1.08 days (P < 0.0001) and greater odds of having at least 15 lymph nodes resected (odds ratio 1.16, P = 0.023). Use of robotic surgery did not have a statistically significant effect on the postoperative length of stay relative to open surgery (P = 0.222) but the patients so treated had greater odds of having at least 15 lymph nodes resected (odds ratio 1.51, P = 0.005). There were no differences in R0 resection rates or perioperative mortality on the basis of the surgical approach alone.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that use of minimally invasive surgery for gastric cancer in the USA is impacting the adequacy of oncologic resection but is not yet having a clinically significant impact on perioperative outcomes relative to a conventional open approach.

Laparoscopic surgery: A qualified systematic review

AIM: To review current applications of the laparoscopic surgery while highlighting the standard procedures across different fields.

METHODS: A comprehensive search was undertaken using the PubMed Advanced Search Builder. A total of 321 articles were found in this search. The following criteria had to be met for the publication to be selected: Review article, randomized controlled trials, or meta-analyses discussing the subject of laparoscopic surgery. In addition, publications were hand-searched in the Cochrane database and the high-impact journals. A total of 82 of the findings were included according to matching the inclusion criteria. Overall, 403 full-text articles were reviewed. Of these, 218 were excluded due to not matching the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS: A total of 185 relevant articles were identified matching the search criteria for an overview of the current literature on the laparoscopic surgery. Articles covered the period from the first laparoscopic application through its tremendous advancement over the last several years. Overall, the biggest advantage of the procedure has been minimizing trauma to the abdominal wall compared with open surgery. In the case of cholecystectomy, fundoplication, and adrenalectomy, the procedure has become the gold standard without being proven as a superior technique over the open surgery in randomized controlled trials. Faster recovery, reduced hospital stay, and a quicker return to normal activities are the most evident advantages of the laparoscopic surgery. Positive outcomes, efficiency, a lower rate of wound infections, and reduction in the perioperative morbidity of minimally invasive procedures have been shown in most indications.

CONCLUSION: Improvements in surgical training and developments in instruments, imaging, and surgical techniques have greatly increased safety and feasibility of the laparoscopic surgical procedures.

Robotic Total Gastrectomy With Intracorporeal Robot-Sewn Anastomosis: A Novel Approach Adopting the Double-Loop Reconstruction Method

Gastric cancer constitutes a major health problem. Robotic surgery has been progressively developed in this field. Although the feasibility of robotic procedures has been demonstrated, there are unresolved aspects being debated, including the reproducibility of intracorporeal in place of extracorporeal anastomosis.Difficulties of traditional laparoscopy have been described and there are well-known advantages of robotic systems, but few articles in literature describe a full robotic execution of the reconstructive phase while others do not give a thorough explanation how this phase was run.A new reconstructive approach, not yet described in literature, was recently adopted at our Center.Robotic total gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy and a so-called "double-loop" reconstruction method with intracorporeal robot-sewn anastomosis (Parisi's technique) was performed in all reported cases.Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data were collected and a technical note was documented.All tumors were located at the upper third of the stomach, and no conversions or intraoperative complications occurred. Histopathological analysis showed R0 resection obtained in all specimens. Hospital stay was regular in all patients and discharge was recommended starting from the 4th postoperative day. No major postoperative complications or reoperations occurred.Reconstruction of the digestive tract after total gastrectomy is one of the main areas of surgical research in the treatment of gastric cancer and in the field of minimally invasive surgery.The double-loop method is a valid simplification of the traditional technique of construction of the Roux-limb that could increase the feasibility and safety in performing a full hand-sewn intracorporeal reconstruction and it appears to fit the characteristics of the robotic system thus obtaining excellent postoperative clinical outcomes.

Robotic, laparoscopic and open surgery for gastric cancer compared on surgical, clinical and oncological outcomes: a multi-institutional chart review. A study protocol of the International study group on Minimally Invasive surgery for GASTRIc Cancer-IMIGASTRIC

INTRODUCTION

Gastric cancer represents a great challenge for healthcare providers and requires a multidisciplinary treatment approach in which surgery plays a major role. Minimally invasive surgery has been progressively developed, first with the advent of laparoscopy and recently with the spread of robotic surgery, but a number of issues are currently being debated, including the limitations in performing an effective extended lymph node dissection, the real advantages of robotic systems, the role of laparoscopy for Advanced Gastric Cancer, the reproducibility of a total intracorporeal technique and the oncological results achievable during long-term follow-up.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A multi-institutional international database will be established to evaluate the role of robotic, laparoscopic and open approaches in gastric cancer, comprising of information regarding surgical, clinical and oncological features. A chart review will be conducted to enter data of participants with gastric cancer, previously treated at the participating institutions. The database is the first of its kind, through an international electronic submission system and a HIPPA protected real time data repository from high volume gastric cancer centres.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study is conducted in compliance with ethical principles originating from the Helsinki Declaration, within the guidelines of Good Clinical Practice and relevant laws/regulations. A multicentre study with a large number of patients will permit further investigation of the safety and efficacy as well as the long-term outcomes of robotic, laparoscopic and open approaches for the management of gastric cancer.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT02325453; Pre-results.

Robotic pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy: Technical considerations

Laparoscopy has revolutionized the way of thinking abdominal surgery, however, to date there are still limitations making it difficult to apply this technique to some types of surgical procedures considered technically demanding even when performed by open surgery, such as the pancreaticoduodenectomy. This technical note provides a complete description of the surgical procedure performed for the execution of a robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy through the use of the "Da Vinci Si" robotic system. Robotic systems represent a real evolution in minimally invasive surgery. We wish to emphasize this concept, highlighting the application of this technology to complex procedures in digestive surgery.