Robot-assisted sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-y gastric bypass: results from the metabolic and bariatric surgery accreditation and quality improvement program data registry.

BACKGROUND

A stronger evidence base is needed to more fully understand the precise role that robot-assisted (RA) approaches may play in bariatrics.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the utilization and safety of RA-sleeve gastrectomy (RA-SG) and RA-Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RA-RYGB) using data from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) registry.

SETTING

National Database.

METHODS

We queried the MBSAQIP 2015 through 2016 registry for patients who underwent primary conventional laparoscopic or RA-SG and RA-RYGB. We compared pre- and perioperative characteristics and 30-day outcomes using logistic regression where number of events met statistical guidelines.

RESULTS

We included 126,987 cases: conventional laparoscopic SG (n = 83,940), RA-SG (n = 6,780), conventional laparoscopic RYGB (n = 33,525), and RA-RYGB (n = 2,742). The RA significantly lengthened operation time by 24 and 23 minutes for SG and RYGB, respectively. Mortality and serious adverse events were similar for the 2 techniques. RA-SG was associated with higher rates of 30-day intervention (1.3% versus .8%, OR: 1.38, P < .05) and hospital stay >2 days (12.1% versus 9.3%, OR: 1.30, P < .001). RA-RYGB was associated with higher 30-day rates of reoperation (2.6% versus 2.0%, OR: 1.37, P < .05) and readmission (7.0% versus 5.8%, OR:1.21, P < .05) and lower rates of transfusion (0.62% versus 1.12%, OR: .54, P < .05) and hospital stay >2 days (15.7% versus 17%, OR: .89, P < .05).

CONCLUSION

RA is as safe as the conventional laparoscopic approach in terms of mortality and serious adverse events.