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Advances in Laparoscopic, Robotic, and Minimally Invasive Gastrointestinal Surgery
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Advances in Laparoscopic, Robotic, and Minimally Invasive Gastrointestinal Surgery

A Special Issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383) belonging to the section "Gastroenterology & Hepatopancreatobiliary Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2026 | Viewed by 1220

Editor

Dr. Alin Mihai Vasilescu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Surgery, St. Spiridon Emergency University Hospital, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 University Street, 700115 Iassy, Romania
Interests: laparoscopic surgery; hepatobiliary surgery; minimally invasive surgery; gastrointestinal surgery; general surgery; emergency surgery; trauma
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue of the Journal of Clinical Medicine on “Advances in Laparoscopic, Robotic, and Minimally Invasive Gastrointestinal Surgery” aims to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the evolving landscape of surgical techniques used in the management of gastrointestinal diseases. Its primary goal is to highlight advances in minimally invasive approaches that improve patient outcomes, reduce perioperative morbidity, and enhance recovery compared to traditional open surgery.

This Special Issue focuses on the integration of laparoscopic and robotic technologies across a wide spectrum of gastrointestinal procedures, including esophageal, gastric, colorectal, hepatobiliary, and pancreatic surgeries. It seeks to explore not only technical innovations—such as improved visualization systems, instrumentation, and surgical platforms—but also clinical outcomes, and long-term patient benefits. Special attention is given to comparisons between conventional laparoscopy and robotic-assisted surgery, as well as emerging hybrid and image-guided techniques.

In addition, the scope includes discussions on the implementation of some advanced technologies in different healthcare settings. This Special Issue also addresses patient selection, perioperative management, complication prevention, and enhanced recovery protocols. By bringing together original research, systematic reviews, and expert opinions, this Special Issue aims to serve as a valuable resource for surgeons, clinicians, and researchers interested in optimizing minimally invasive gastrointestinal care.

Ultimately, the Special Issue promotes innovation, critical evaluation, and the dissemination of best practices in order to advance the field and improve patient-centered outcomes worldwide.

Dr. Alin Mihai Vasilescu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • minimally invasive surgery
  • laparoscopy
  • robotic surgery
  • gastrointestinal surgery
  • surgical innovation
  • patient outcomes
  • enhanced recovery
  • clinical research

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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17 pages, 1194 KB  
Article
Implementation of a Robotic Liver Surgery Program in a Large Municipal Hospital: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis of Clinical, Economic, and Learning Curve Outcomes
by Daniel Eckhardt, Victoria Vaas, Teresa Colbatzky, Cornelia Porzner, Luca Giulini, Martin C. Wittmann, Markus K. Diener, Felix J. Hüttner and Patrick Heger
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(16), 6413; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15166413 - 19 Aug 2026
Viewed by 263
Abstract
Background: Evidence regarding implementation of robotic liver surgery outside academic centers remains limited. This study evaluated perioperative, economic, and learning-curve outcomes during implementation of robotic liver surgery in a municipal hospital. Methods: Consecutive liver resections performed between November 2023 and June [...] Read more.
Background: Evidence regarding implementation of robotic liver surgery outside academic centers remains limited. This study evaluated perioperative, economic, and learning-curve outcomes during implementation of robotic liver surgery in a municipal hospital. Methods: Consecutive liver resections performed between November 2023 and June 2025 were retrospectively analyzed from an institutional database using propensity score matching. Primary outcomes included Textbook Outcome (TO), major complications (Clavien–Dindo ≥ IIIa), operative duration, blood loss, and postoperative quality of life (QoL). Learning curves were analyzed using cumulative sum analysis adjusted for IWATE difficulty levels. An economic subgroup analysis evaluated cost components. Results: After matching, operative duration, TO, and major complications were similar between groups, whereas blood loss was significantly lower in the robotic group. Risk-adjusted learning curves demonstrated outcome-specific change-points, with the lowest TO rates observed at 8 cases and peak major complication rates at 29 cases. QoL did not differ between groups. Total costs were comparable. Conclusions: Implementation of robotic liver surgery was associated with lower blood loss, but no statistically significant differences in the other principal clinical outcomes, total costs, or QoL. Complexity-adjusted learning curves demonstrated multidimensional learning patterns with different breakpoints across evaluated outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Laparoscopic, Robotic, and Minimally Invasive Gastrointestinal Surgery)
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Review

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21 pages, 387 KB  
Review
Colorectal Cancer Surgery: Laparoscopic vs. Robotic Approaches—A Review of the Literature
by Raul Mihailov, George Țocu, Gabriel Valeriu Popa, Oana Mariana Mihailov, Adrian Beznea, Bogdan Mihnea Ciuntu and Valerii Luțenco
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(13), 5164; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15135164 - 2 Jul 2026
Viewed by 663
Abstract
Background: Minimally invasive surgery has become the standard of care in colorectal cancer management, with laparoscopic techniques widely adopted due to their established short-term benefits and comparable oncological outcomes to open surgery. More recently, robotic-assisted surgery has emerged as an advanced minimally [...] Read more.
Background: Minimally invasive surgery has become the standard of care in colorectal cancer management, with laparoscopic techniques widely adopted due to their established short-term benefits and comparable oncological outcomes to open surgery. More recently, robotic-assisted surgery has emerged as an advanced minimally invasive alternative, offering enhanced visualization, improved instrument dexterity, and superior ergonomics. However, the extent to which these technical advantages translate into clinically meaningful improvements remains a subject of ongoing debate. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, including studies published between 2005 and 2025. Eligible studies comprised randomized controlled trials, observational studies, cohort studies, and meta-analyses comparing laparoscopic and robotic colectomy for colon cancer. Outcomes of interest included intraoperative parameters (operative time, blood loss, conversion rate), postoperative outcomes (length of hospital stay, complications, mortality), and oncological endpoints (lymph node yield, resection margins, survival). The review was performed in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Results: A total of 150 studies met the inclusion criteria. Robotic colectomy was consistently associated with reduced intraoperative blood loss, lower conversion rates to open surgery, and shorter length of hospital stay, albeit at the expense of longer operative times, particularly during the learning phase. Oncological outcomes, including lymph node harvest and margin status, were comparable between approaches, with some studies reporting a modest increase in lymph node yield in robotic procedures. The adoption of intracorporeal anastomosis was significantly higher in robotic surgery, contributing to improved postoperative recovery and reduced wound-related complications. Composite quality metrics, such as textbook outcome (TO), were more frequently achieved in robotic cohorts, largely driven by shorter hospitalization and lower complication rates. However, evidence from randomized controlled trials remains limited, and heterogeneity among studies persists. Conclusions: Robotic colectomy and rectal resection represent a safe and effective alternative to laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of colon cancer, offering potential advantages in perioperative outcomes and surgical precision. Its benefits appear particularly relevant in technically demanding cases, such as deep pelvic dissection and obese patients. Nevertheless, higher costs, longer operative times during the initial learning curve, and limited high-quality randomized evidence warrant cautious adoption. Future large-scale randomized studies are needed to clarify long-term oncological outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and the optimal integration of robotic platforms into standard colorectal surgical practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Laparoscopic, Robotic, and Minimally Invasive Gastrointestinal Surgery)
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