Evaluation of technical feasibility and safety of Single-Site™ robotic right colectomy: three case reports

BACKGROUND: Robotic Single-Site™ surgery overcomes the technical constraints of single-access laparoscopy. After performing over 130 Single-Site robotic cholecystectomies and stabilizing operative times, we applied this technology to right colon surgery. METHODS: We successfully completed three Single-Site robotic right colectomies (SSRRCs) using the da Vinci Si Surgical System(®) with a Single-Site kit (© Intuitive Surgical™) inserted through a suprapubic incision. RESULTS: Overall SSRRC operative time was 218.3 ± 75.9 min. A side-to-side anisoperistaltic anastomosis was fashioned intracorporeally (two cases) or extracorporeally (one case). All patients were discharged within 5 days. There were no complications and oncological principles were satisfied. There were no recurrences up to 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of SSRRC with intracorporeal anastomosis using the da Vinci(®) Single-Site™ port inserted through a suprapubic incision. This approach is feasible and safe, with oncological outcomes potentially equivalent to those of robotic or laparoscopic multiport surgery.