Robotic-Assisted vs. Laparoscopic Splenectomy in Children: A Systematic Review and Up-to-Date Meta-Analysis.

Introduction

Robotic splenectomy has emerged as a promising alternative to laparoscopic surgery, offering potential advantages in precision, ergonomics, and individualized surgical planning. In the context of personalized medicine, robotic technology may enable tailoring of surgical strategies to patient-specific anatomy, spleen size, and comorbid hematologic conditions. However, its clinical superiority remains uncertain due to limited and heterogeneous evidence.

Methods

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines, utilizing PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases to locate studies on robotic splenectomies in children. This review was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251104285). Risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool for non-randomized studies. Random-effects models were fitted using restricted maximum likelihood (REML), and confidence intervals were adjusted using either Knapp-Hartung (HKSJ) or modified Knapp-Hartung (mKH) methods when appropriate. 95% prediction intervals were calculated, and the certainty of evidence for each outcome was assessed using the GRADE approach.

Results

This review included 272 pediatric patients from 16 studies conducted between 2003 and 2025, of which five were included in the meta-analysis. No statistically significant differences were observed between robotic and laparoscopic splenectomy for operative time, intraoperative blood loss, conversion to open surgery, blood transfusions, or complications. However, the direction of effect estimates consistently favored the robotic approach. A statistically significant reduction in hospitalization days (-0.93 days; 95% CI: -1.61 to -0.24; p = 0.01) was found, though this became marginally significant after HKSJ adjustment (p = 0.06). Intraoperative blood loss showed significance in the primary model (-63.88 mL; 95% CI: -120.38 to -7.38; p = 0.03), but not after mKH correction (p = 0.16). Heterogeneity was substantial-to-extreme for several outcomes and was only partially accounted for by leave-one-out sensitivity analyses. All findings were rated as very low certainty according to the GRADE framework.

Conclusions

Robotic-assisted splenectomy in pediatric patients has been reported as technically feasible and performed safely in selected cases. However, the small number of studies, their retrospective design, substantial methodological heterogeneity, and the resulting very low certainty of the evidence according to GRADE preclude any firm conclusions about its comparative safety or efficacy versus laparoscopy. Well-designed prospective studies are needed to clarify its clinical benefits.