Robotic Segmental Resection of the Splenic Flexure and Mid-Transverse Colon for Malignancy Treatment: A Systematic Review of Operative Techniques, Anastomotic Approaches, and Surgical and Oncological Outcomes
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Methods
2.1. Search Strategy
2.2. Eligibility Criteria
2.3. Study Selection and Data Extraction
2.4. Risk of Bias Assessment
2.5. Certainty of Evidence (GRADE)
3. Results
3.1. Study Selection
3.2. Risk of Bias Assessment
3.3. Study Characteristics
3.4. Patient and Tumor Characteristics
3.5. Surgical Technique and Intraoperative Outcomes
3.6. Postoperative Outcomes and GRADE Certainty
3.7. Oncological Outcomes
3.8. Descriptive Stratifications
4. Discussion
4.1. Technical Challenges and Role of Robotic Assistance
4.2. Anastomotic Strategies
4.3. Operative and Perioperative Outcomes
4.4. Operator Experience and Learning Curve
4.5. Cost-Effectiveness Considerations
4.6. Strengths
4.7. Limitations
4.8. Future Directions
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Author (Year) | Country | Study Design | NOS Score | NOS Quality | ROBINS-I Overall Risk | Key Sources of Bias |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
De Angelis et al., 2015 [11] | France | Comparative retrospective | 8 | High | Moderate | Retrospective design with potential unmeasured confounders; no PSM. |
Jung et al., 2015 [12] | South Korea | Single-surgeon retrospective series | NA | NA | Serious | Lack of control group and small sample size; retrospective design. |
Zhang et al., 2021 [13] | China | Comparative (PSM) retrospective | 8 | High | Low | Use of PSM reduced imbalance; low risk from residual confounding. |
Milone et al., 2022 [14] | Italy | Comparative (PSM) retrospective | 8 | High | Low | Matching reduced confounding, but residual bias from selection and retrospective data collection. |
Monsellato et al., 2024 [15] | Italy | Single-surgeon retrospective series | 7 | High | Moderate | Single-operator experience limits generalizability; small sample size; moderate risk from selective reporting. |
Author (Year) | Patients (n) | Age (Years) | Gender (M/F) | BMI (kg/m2) | ASA I–II | ASA III–IV | Tumor Location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
De Angelis et al., 2015 [11] | 22 | 72.2 * | 15/7 | 24.1 * | 22 | 0 | Mid-Transverse Colon |
Jung et al., 2015 [12] | 3 | 59.6 * | 2/1 | 26.1 * | NA | NA | Mid-Transverse Colon |
Zhang et al., 2021 [13] | 19 | 58 ** | 12/7 | 23.5 ** | 19 | 0 | Splenic Flexure |
Milone et al., 2022 [14] | 18 | 74.2 ** | 15/3 | 25 ** | NA | NA | Mid-Transverse Colon |
Monsellato et al., 2024 [15] | 12 | 70 ** | 6/6 | 27.4 ** | 10 | 2 | Splenic Flexure |
Author (Year) | Robotic Platform | Vessel Ligation | Anastomotic Technique | IOBL (mL) | OT (min) | Intraoperative Complications (n, %) | Conversion Rate (n, %) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
De Angelis et al., 2015 [11] | da Vinci Surgical System | MCA, MCV | Extracorporeal, side-to-side, mechanic | 100 | 267.95 * | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
Jung et al., 2015 [12] | da Vinci S Surgical System | MCA, MCV | Intracorporeal, end-to-end, hand-sewn | NA | 268.3 * | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
Zhang et al., 2021 [13] | da Vinci Si Surgical System | IMV, LCA | Extracorporeal, side-to-side, mechanic | 100 | 170 ** | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
Milone et al., 2022 [14] | NA | MCA, MCV | NA | NA | 157.5 ** | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
Monsellato et al., 2024 [15] | da Vinci Si/Xi Surgical System | LCV, LCA, LMCA, LMCV | Intracorporeal, side-to-side, mechanic | NA | 267 ** | 0 (0%) | 3 (25%) |
Author (Year) | LOS (Days) | Morbidity (n, %) | Complication Type | Anastomotic Leak | 30-Day Mortality (n,%) | Tumor Size (cm) | Resection Margin | Nodes (n) | Follow-Up (Months) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
De Angelis et al., 2015 [11] | 7 * | 3 (13.6%) | 1 leak; 1 ileus; 1 wound infection | 1 | 0 (0%) | 4.7 * | R0 | 17.5 * | 2 * |
Jung et al., 2015 [12] | 8.6 * | 0 (0%) | - | 0 | 0 (0%) | 3.2 * | R0 | 7 * | 72 * |
Zhang et al., 2021 [13] | 8 ** | 2 (10.5%) | 1 leak; 1 pulmonary infection | 1 | 0 (0%) | 5 ** | R0 | 18 ** | 24 ** |
Milone et al., 2022 [14] | 8 ** | 6 (33.3%) | 2 leaks; 2 wound infections; 2 bleeds | 2 | 0 (0%) | NA | R0 | 14.5 ** | 3.4 ** |
Monsellato et al., 2024 [15] | 6 ** | 1 (8%) | 1 pulmonary failure | 0 | 0 (0%) | NA | R0 | 20 ** | 42 ** |
Outcome | Pooled n/N (%) | Study Range | Studies (n) | Certainty (GRADE) | Brief Reasons for Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open Conversion | 3/74 (4.1%) | 0–25% | 5 | LOW | Observational single-arm evidence; small samples and few events → imprecision. |
Overall Morbidity | 12/74 (16.2%) | 0–33.3% | 5 | LOW | Observational design; heterogeneous reporting; downgraded for risk of bias/imprecision. |
Anastomotic Leak | 4/74 (5.4%) | 0–11.1% | 5 | LOW | Observational design; small samples → imprecision; objective ascertainment. |
R0 Resections | 74/74 (100%) | 100% in all | 5 | MODERATE | Objective oncologic endpoint; consistent across studies; acceptable precision. |
≥12 Lymph Nodes | 71/74 (95.9%) | ≈89–100% | 5 | MODERATE | Objective endpoint; high and consistent attainment; acceptable precision. |
Stratification | Subgroup (n) | Morbidity n/N (%) | Anastomotic Leak n/N (%) | Conversion n/N (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tumor Site | Mid-transverse (n = 43) | 9/43 (20.9%) | 3/43 (7.0%) | 0/43 (0%) |
Splenic flexure (n = 31) | 3/31 (9.7%) | 1/31 (3.2%) | 3/31 (9.7%) | |
Anastomosis | Extracorporeal (n = 41) | 5/41 (12.2%) | 2/41 (4.9%) | 0/41 (0%) |
Intracorporeal (n = 15) | 1/15 (6.7%) | 0/15 (0%) | 3/15 (20%) | |
Center Type | Multicenter cohort (n = 18) | 6/18 (33.3%) | 2/18 (11.1%) | 0/18 (0%) |
Single Center pooled (n = 56) | 6/56 (10.7%) | 2/56 (3.6%) | 3/56 (5.4%) |
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Fassari, A.; Iossa, A.; Micalizzi, A.; Lelli, G.; Giovampietro, S.; Rosso, E.; Cavallaro, G. Robotic Segmental Resection of the Splenic Flexure and Mid-Transverse Colon for Malignancy Treatment: A Systematic Review of Operative Techniques, Anastomotic Approaches, and Surgical and Oncological Outcomes. J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14, 7236. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14207236
Fassari A, Iossa A, Micalizzi A, Lelli G, Giovampietro S, Rosso E, Cavallaro G. Robotic Segmental Resection of the Splenic Flexure and Mid-Transverse Colon for Malignancy Treatment: A Systematic Review of Operative Techniques, Anastomotic Approaches, and Surgical and Oncological Outcomes. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2025; 14(20):7236. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14207236
Chicago/Turabian StyleFassari, Alessia, Angelo Iossa, Alessandra Micalizzi, Giulio Lelli, Sara Giovampietro, Edoardo Rosso, and Giuseppe Cavallaro. 2025. "Robotic Segmental Resection of the Splenic Flexure and Mid-Transverse Colon for Malignancy Treatment: A Systematic Review of Operative Techniques, Anastomotic Approaches, and Surgical and Oncological Outcomes" Journal of Clinical Medicine 14, no. 20: 7236. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14207236
APA StyleFassari, A., Iossa, A., Micalizzi, A., Lelli, G., Giovampietro, S., Rosso, E., & Cavallaro, G. (2025). Robotic Segmental Resection of the Splenic Flexure and Mid-Transverse Colon for Malignancy Treatment: A Systematic Review of Operative Techniques, Anastomotic Approaches, and Surgical and Oncological Outcomes. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(20), 7236. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14207236