Robotic Abdominoperineal Resection for Lower Rectal Cancers: How We Do It?

Abstract Introduction: Robotic approach has been increasingly applied to the surgical resection of distal rectal cancer. All reports from the advocators on the use of robotic assistance in rectal surgeries have confirmed its safety, efficacy, and good functional outcomes.1–5 Currently, however, there is no denying that robotic technology in rectal cancer surgery is still in its infancy, which is reflected in the limited number of publications on this topic, and the variability of robotic techniques ranging from the use of the robot in a single cart position (single docking) or two different cart positions (dual docking), to the use of hybrid procedure. In the present study, we test the technical feasibility of our individual robotic approach, the three-armed robotic abdominoperineal resection (APR), for the treatment of distal rectal cancer. We hypothesize that by using three Da Vinci® robotic arms (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA), the APR procedure can be performed as efficiently and efficaciously as ...