Robotic vs laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Editor's Note

In this study, robotic cholecystectomy was associated with lesser lengths of stay and readmission rates than laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The robotic procedure also had greater operative duration and hospital costs.

Of 3,255 patients who had cholecystectomy during the study period, the researchers matched 106 robotic and 1,060 laparoscopic cases. There were no differences in preoperative comorbidities.

Robotic patients had shorter lengths of stay than laparoscopic patients (0.1 vs 0.8 days) and lesser 90-day readmission rates (0% vs 4.1%). However, operative and hospital costs were greater for the robotic procedures.

Hospitals and surgeons need to consider the improved outcomes but also the monetary and time investments required for robotic cholecystectomy, the authors note.