| Title: | Establishing a robot-assisted liver surgery program : early experience from University Medical Center Ljubljana |
|---|
| Authors: | ID Petrič, Miha (Author)
ID Nardin, Živa (Author)
ID Grosek, Jan (Author)
ID Tomažič, Aleš (Author)
ID Plešnik, Boštjan (Author)
ID Trotovšek, Blaž (Author) |
|---|
| Files: |  PDF - Presentation file, download (393,24 KB)
MD5: 366C32D7DFB3FA9C113BD701992F4384
 URL - Source URL, visit https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/62/1/18
|
|---|
| Language: | English |
|---|
| Typology: | 1.01 - Original Scientific Article |
|---|
| Organization: |  UKC LJ - Ljubljana University Medical Centre
|
|---|
| Abstract: | Background and Objectives: Robot-assisted procedures represent a significant advancement in minimally invasive liver resection techniques. Nonetheless, the introduction of a novel surgical technique in a new environment necessitates meticulous planning and a gradual, stepwise approach. This study describes the adoption of a robotic surgical platform for liver resection at a high-volume tertiary care center. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data that had been prospectively collected from fifty robot-assisted liver resections. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, means/medians, and standard deviations, were employed for description and summary. Results: The median operative duration was 166 min (range: 85–400 min), with an average intraoperative blood loss of 200 mL (range: 50–1000 milliliters). Intraoperative or postoperative blood transfusion was required in 8% of patients. Conversion to open resection was necessary in one patient (2%). The mean duration of hospitalization was 5 days (range: 3–20 days), with a 30-day readmission rate of 6% and no mortality within 90 days. Postoperative complications classified as Clavien-Dindo grade 3 or higher were observed in five patients (10%). The mean tumor size varied according to pathology: 58.5 mm (range: 30–120 mm) in the hepatocellular carcinoma group; 27.4 mm (range: 10–32 mm) in the secondary malignancy group; and 42.6 mm (range: 24–60 mm) in the intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma group. The median number of lymph nodes harvested during lymphadenectomy (IHHCA/GBCA) was 5.4, ranging from 1 to 11. The R0 resection rate for malignant tumors was 88.2% (of 30/34). Conclusions: This study validates the safe integration of robot-assisted surgery into liver disease treatment, supported by our initial experience. Despite its technical advantages, robotic-assisted liver surgery remains complex and demanding. Structured robotic training within established programs, meticulous patient selection, and a stepwise implementation approach are critical during the early phases to optimize the outcomes. |
|---|
| Keywords: | robot-assisted surgery, liver surgery, implementation, minimal invasive liver surgery, structured program |
|---|
| Publication status: | Published |
|---|
| Publication version: | Version of Record |
|---|
| Year of publishing: | 2026 |
|---|
| Number of pages: | str. 1-12 |
|---|
| Numbering: | Vol. 62, issue 1, [article no.] 18 |
|---|
| PID: | 20.500.12556/DiRROS-24872  |
|---|
| UDC: | 616-089 |
|---|
| ISSN on article: | 1648-9144 |
|---|
| DOI: | 10.3390/medicina62010018 |
|---|
| COBISS.SI-ID: | 262651139 |
|---|
| Note: | Nasl. z nasl. zaslona;
Opis vira z dne 23. 12. 2025;
|
|---|
| Publication date in DiRROS: | 23.12.2025 |
|---|
| Views: | 17 |
|---|
| Downloads: | 10 |
|---|
| Metadata: |    |
|---|
|
:
|
Copy citation |
|---|
| | | | Share: |  |
|---|
Hover the mouse pointer over a document title to show the abstract or click
on the title to get all document metadata. |
