Robotic surgery for gastrointestinal malignancies.

BACKGROUND: This report describes our initial experience with the use of robotic-assisted surgery for the treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies. METHODS: Between November 2004 and July 2007, 73 robotic procedures (26 female, 47 male) for GI cancer were performed and retrospectively reviewed. Procedures included 25 oesophagectomies, 11 gastrectomies and 37 rectal resections. The median body mass index (BMI) for this patient population was 26. RESULTS: The median operative times for rectal, oesophageal and gastric resections were 285, 482 and 430 min, respectively. There were three conversions. Major postoperative morbidity was 16% for rectal, 32% for oesophageal and 9% for gastric procedures. The leak rate was 11% for rectal, 16% for oesophageal and 9% for gastric anastomoses. Median length of stay was 4, 11 and 5 days, respectively. The median number of lymph nodes harvested was 13, 22, and 26 for rectal, oesophageal and gastric lymphadenectomies, respectively. At a median follow-up of 9 months, one patient developed a port site recurrence; 30 day mortality was zero. CONCLUSION: This initial experience suggests that the robotic approach is safe and feasible for a variety of radical oncological surgical procedures.

Gallbladder hypokinesia: an unusual cause of duodenal obstruction.

Gallbladder hypokinesis is an uncommon condition and a potential etiologic factor in the formation of gallstones and the development of cholecystitis. It is associated with a number of different conditions, but gallbladder hypokinesia as a cause of small bowel obstruction is unreported. In the case presented below, we saw a postoperative partial upper small bowel obstruction due to hypokinesia of the gallbladder. The investigations, management, and subsequent recovery are described. A review of the literature failed to reveal any similar occurrence.