Feasibility and Accuracy of Robotic Gastrectomy

The primary outcome was the feasibility of RUS™ for robotic gastrectomy. The feasibility was evaluated as the successful use of RUS™ without any error in delivering the 3-D model or inability to perform robotic gastrectomy by generating a 3-D model until its use for operation. Secondary outcomes were the turnaround time, the accuracy of detecting vascular anatomy with its variations, and the comparison of perioperative outcomes with a control group. The turnaround time was defined as the time from the patient’s CT DICOM file and demographic information transfer until the creation of a patient-specific 3-D model for RUS™ use. When a 3-D model is developed, the feasibility of regular operation is checked so that the anatomical structures can be reviewed before surgery. We assessed the 3-D model information regarding the origin, location, and variations of vessels encountered when performing robotic subtotal gastrectomy. We compared the accuracy of the anatomy of each blood vessel identified by RUS™ with the actual intraoperative findings. We measured the distance from each vascular structure to the specific reference point. Distance from the reference point was measured using the function of RUS™ and confirmed by measuring distance using a flexible ruler during the surgery.