Robotic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Surgical Technique and Short-term Experience from 329 Cases

Objective: minimally invasive bariatric surgery is clearly superior over open procedures including better early outcomes. Different surgical approaches are used to treat the severely obese, having Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) being a highly frequent procedure. Robotic surgery overcomes some laparoscopic limitations adding ergonomics, articulating instruments and a three-dimensional high definition camera. Based on our vast robotic experience, we present our referred group case series and a standardized Robotic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (rRYGB) technique as well as its outcomes.

Methods: a review of a prospective maintained database was conducted in patients submitted to robotic Roux en Y bariatric surgery between April 2015 and July 2019. Surgical technique is described and illustrated. We also reported patients demographics, outcomes and its follow-up.

Results: a Retrospective analysis identified 329 patients submitted to Robotic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Both da Vinci Si and Xi platforms were used. Mean age was 34.4 years, with median BMI of 44.2 kg/m2. Mean console time was 102 min and there was no conversion. No surgical hospital readmission rates were seen in the first 30 days.

Conclusion: this study represents our initial experience of robotic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (rRYGB), its short outcomes and a standardized surgical technique. Our results encourage that rRYGB is technically feasible and safe, and might offer some advantages showing good outcomes and minimal complications.