Robot-assisted intersphincteric resection for rectal submucosal tumour

Background: Rectal submucosal tumours are rare. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of robot-assisted rectal surgery. Methods: Patients who received robot-assisted intersphincteric resection (ISR) were included in the present study. Clinical outcomes, operating time, length of hospital stay and pathological status were analysed. Results: There were three patients with gastrointestinal tumours and three patients diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumours. The mean operating time was 369.2 min and the estimated blood loss was 66.7 ml. There were neither intraoperative complications nor conversions. On pathological examination, the mean number of lymph nodes harvested was 10.3 (range 3–16), the mean distal resection margin was 1.1 (range 0.1–3) cm and all six patients had the circumferential resection margins clear. Conclusions: Our data show that robotic surgery is feasible and safe, with no morbidity or mortality, and that ISR provides bowel continuity and eliminates the need for colostomy.