Robotic laparoscopic distal gastrectomy: a comparison of the da Vinci and Zeus systems.

BACKGROUND: The robotic surgical systems working on a master-slave principle have been developed and used in the worldwide in cardiac, urologic, and general surgery.

METHODS: The two robotic systems, the da Vinci and the Zeus Robotic Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Calif., USA), were compared with the aim of evaluating operative feasibility and technical efficacy in distal gastrectomy.

RESULTS: During laparoscopic gastrectomy, the da Vinci System (n = 2) had a shorter total operative time (445 versus 656 minutes; p = 0.09) and less blood loss (65 versus 277 mL; p = 0.08) compared with the Zeus System (n = 3). The articulated instruments of both systems were useful in lymph node dissection, isolation of vessels in fat tissue, ligation of vessels, and intraabdominal anastomosis of the gastrointestinal tract. Robotic laparoscopic procedures can be performed effectively using either the da Vinci or Zeus System.

CONCLUSION: In this limited study, the robotic instruments, especially those of da Vinci system, made it easier to complete tissue dissection including lymph nodes, complicated endoscopic anastomoses, and ligatures in a closed cavity.