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Comparing robotic and open surgical techniques in gallbladder cancer management: a detailed systematic review and meta-analysis

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Abstract

This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the safety and oncological outcomes of robotic surgery compared to open surgery in treating gallbladder cancer (GBC). In October 2023, we performed a literature search across major global databases such as PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. We employed a Review Manager for parameter comparisons. This study has been registered with PROSPERO under the identifier CRD42023476686. Our final meta-analysis incorporated 5 cohort studies, encompassing a total of 353 patients. Compared to the Open Group (OG), the Robotic Group (RG) had reduced intraoperative blood loss (WMD − 217.72 ml, 95% CI − 371.08 to − 64.35; p = 0.005), shorter hospital stay (WMD − 1.80 days, 95% CI − 2.66 to − 0.95; p < 0.0001), and fewer overall complications (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.10–0.97; p = 0.04). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of operation duration, postoperative inpatient days, readmission rate, major complications, 1-year postoperative survival, 2-year postoperative survival, and mortality rates. In our study, we found that for patients with gallbladder cancer, robotic radical cholecystectomy offers certain potential advantages over open radical cholecystectomy. This suggests that robotic radical cholecystectomy might be the optimal choice for treating gallbladder cancer. However, further validation from high-quality randomized clinical trials is required.

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The original contributions presented in this study are provided within the article's materials. For additional inquiries, please contact the corresponding author(s).

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Author notes

  1. Jie Wang, Jing-Bing Zhao and Lin-Lin Chen equally contributed to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancrease II, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China

    Jie Wang, Zhao Li, Jing-Bing Zhao, Jian-Lin Wu & Zheng-Wei Leng

  2. Department of Hemodialysis, Sixth People’s Hospital, Nanchong, Sichuan, China

    Lin-Lin Chen

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  1. Jie Wang
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study's conception and design. Data collection and analysis were conducted by LZ and WJL. The initial draft of the manuscript was prepared by ZJB and CLL. Drafting, as well as critical revisions for significant intellectual content, were undertaken by LZW and WJ. All authors provided input on earlier manuscript versions, and they have reviewed and endorsed the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Zheng-Wei Leng.

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Wang, J., Li, Z., Chen, LL. et al. Comparing robotic and open surgical techniques in gallbladder cancer management: a detailed systematic review and meta-analysis. J Robotic Surg 18, 111 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11701-024-01851-8

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