Evolution from laparoscopic to robotic radical resection for gallbladder cancer: a propensity score-matched comparative study.

Background: The use of robotic or laparoscopic surgery for gallbladder cancer (GBC) is increasing, with reported advantages over conventional open surgery. The purpose of this study was to compare the perioperative outcomes and postoperative overall survival (OS) associated with robotic radical resection (RRR) and laparoscopic radical resection (LRR) for GBC.

Method: A total of 109 patients with GBC who underwent radical resection with the same surgical team between January 2015 and December 2023 were enrolled, with 21 patients in the RRR group and 88 cases in the LRR group. A 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) algorithm was used to compare the surgical outcomes and postoperative prognosis between the RRR and LRR groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors of postoperative overall survival (OS) and complications of Clavien-Dindo (C-D) Grades III-IV.

Results: The median follow-up time was 46 (inter-quartile range, IQR 29-70) months for the LRR group and 16 (IQR 12-34) months for the RRR group. After PSM, the baseline characteristics of the RRR and LRR groups were generally well balanced, with 21 patients in each group. RRR was associated with significantly decreased intraoperative bleeding [100.00 (50.00, 200.00) mL vs 200.00 (100.00, 300.00) mL] and higher number of lymph nodes (LNs) yield [12.00 (9.00, 15.50) vs 8.00 (6.00, 12.00)]. The two groups showed comparable outcomes in terms of the incidence of biliary reconstruction, the range of liver resection, the length of operation, the incidence of postoperative morbidity, the incidence of C-D Grades III-IV complications, number of the days of drainage tubes indwelling and postoperative hospital stay, and mortality by postoperative days 30 and 90. After PSM, the 1-, 2-, and 3-year overall survival rates were 78, 70, and 37%, respectively, in the RRR group, and 71, 59, and 48%, respectively, in the LRR group (P = 0.593). Multivariate analysis showed that the preoperative TB level ≥ 72 µmol/L and biliary reconstruction were found to be the independent risk factors of C-D Grades III-IV complications. T3 stage was identified to be the risk factor for postoperative OS.

Conclusion: Compared with LRR, RRR showed comparable perioperative outcomes in terms of length of operation, and postoperative complications, recovery, and OS. In our case series, RRR of GBC can be accomplished safely and tends to show less intraoperative bleeding and higher LNs yield.