Early Experience With Endorobotic Submucosal Dissection (ERSD): Pathologic and Short-term Outcomes in the First 28 Patients.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety and feasibility of single-port endorobotic submucosal dissection (ERSD) using the Da Vinci SP platform for the management of rectal neoplasms.

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) offers a potential organ-sparing treatment for advanced colorectal neoplasms but demands high technical skill and a steep learning curve. Advances in semiflexible robotic platforms, such as the Da Vinci SP, promise to simplify this procedure, potentially offering improved outcomes for patients with benign rectal neoplasms.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of 28 patients who underwent ERSD using the Da Vinci SP platform between 2020 and 2023 was performed. Patient demographics, lesion characteristics, procedure details, outcomes, and complications were reviewed. The primary endpoint was successful en-bloc resection.

RESULTS

The cohort had a median age of 60.5 years and a median BMI of 28.2 kg/m², predominantly male (67.8%) with ASA categories 2 or 3 (82%). Lesions had a median size of 38 mm and were located a median of 9 cm from the anal verge. The median procedure time was 87.5 minutes. En-bloc resection was achieved in all cases (100%), with no intraoperative complications or mortality. One patient experienced urinary retention, and 1 had late bleeding requiring blood transfusion. Pathology outcomes included 46.4% tubulovillous adenomas, 21.4% adenocarcinomas, and high-grade dysplasia in 53.6% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Single-port ERSD using the Da Vinci SP platform is safe and feasible for the management of colorectal neoplasia, ensuring a high rate of en-bloc resection. It potentially offers advantages over conventional ESD, including shorter dissection times, although further studies are necessary for a definitive comparison.