Prevalence and safety of robotic surgery for gastrointestinal malignant tumors in Japan

Tatsuto Nishigori, Nao Ichihara, Kazutaka Obama, Ichiro Uyama, Hiroaki Miyata, Masafumi Inomata, Yoshihiro Kakeji, Yuko Kitagawa, Yoshiharu Sakai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aim: The National Health Insurance system has reimbursed robotic gastrointestinal surgery since April 2018 in Japan. Additionally, strict facility and surgeon standards were established by the government and the academic society. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and safety of robotic surgery using a Japanese nationwide web-based database. Methods: Patients who underwent the following robotic surgeries for malignant tumors in 2018 were included: esophagectomy (RE), total gastrectomy (RTG), distal gastrectomy (RDG), proximal gastrectomy (RPG), low anterior resection (RLAR), and rectal resections other than RLAR (RRR). The number of cases and surgical mortality rates each month were calculated to evaluate the prevalence and safety of robotic procedures. Results: A total of 3281 patients underwent robotic gastrointestinal surgery. The monthly number of robotic surgeries nearly doubled in April 2018 when they were initially reimbursed by the National Health Insurance system. Operative mortality rates were 0.9%, 0.4%, 0.2%, and 2.8% for RE (n = 330), RTG (n = 239), RDG (n = 1167), and RPG (n = 109), respectively. No mortality was observed in RLAR (n = 1062) or RRR (n = 374). Conclusion: Robotic surgery for gastrointestinal malignant tumors was safely introduced into daily clinical practice along with rigorous surgeon and facility standards in Japan.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)746-752
Number of pages7
JournalAnnals of Gastroenterological Surgery
Volume6
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11-2022
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Surgery
  • Gastroenterology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Prevalence and safety of robotic surgery for gastrointestinal malignant tumors in Japan'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this