Feasibility of robotic-assisted right colectomy using the "squeezing approach".

PURPOSE: To evaluate the initial outcomes regarding the safety and feasibility of robotic-assisted right colectomy (RRC) using the squeezing approach compared to conventional laparoscopic right colectomy (LRC).

METHODS

We retrospectively compared the short-term surgical outcomes of 118 consecutive patients who underwent right colectomy using the squeezing approach for colon cancer (70 LRC and 48 RRC) at our institution between April 2022 and December 2025.

RESULTS

The median operative time was significantly longer in the RRC group than in the LRC group (219.0 min vs. 189.0 min, p < 0.0001). However, the median estimated blood loss was equivalent and minimal in both groups (0.0 mL vs. 0.0 mL, p = 0.9035). There was no significant difference in the median number of harvested lymph nodes (21.5 vs. 23.0, p = 0.7506). RRC demonstrated safety, with outcomes comparable to LRC in terms of the rate of conversion to open surgery (2.1% vs. 5.7%, p = 0.6194), Clavien-Dindo Grade II complications (8.3% vs. 11.4%, p = 0.741), and Grade III complications (2.1% vs. 2.9%, p = 1.000).

CONCLUSIONS

The squeezing approach enables safe and feasible RRC, thereby achieving perioperative outcomes comparable to LRC, even during the initial implementation phase.