Robotic and laparoscopic Ileocolic resection for Crohn's disease: our initial experience

Introduction: Robotic ileocolic resection has emerged as a promising surgical technique for the management of Chron’s disease, particularly in cases involving the terminal ileum and proximal colon. This minimally invasive approach offers several potential benefits over traditional open and laparoscopic surgeries, including shorter recovery period and possibility to perform an intracorporeal anastomosis. We present our initial experience with a comprehensive analysis of the outcomes, advantages with robotic ileocolic resection for Chron’s disease.

Materials and methods: We analyzed the short-term outcomes of ileocolic resection for Crohn's disease between robotic ileocolic resection with intracorporeal anastomosis and laparoscopic resection. Our first 10 patients undergoing minimally invasive ileocolic resections for Crohn's disease, between January 2022 and May 2024, were retrospectively identified.

Results: Among the 10 patients, 5 (50%) underwent Robotic ileocolic resection while 5 (50%) Laparoscopic resection. Both groups were similar according to severity of disease and preoperative characteristics. Robotic resection was associated with longer operative time [Robotic resection: 220 ± 50 min vs. Laparoscopic resection: 120 ± 59 min. We had 1 anastomotic dehiscence in the robotic group. Return to bowel function was 2-3 days in both group and length of stays were similar, 4-5 days.

Conclusions: Robotic ileocecal resection demonstrated similar periopoerative outcomes to laparoscopic resection, despite the longer operative time. Our robotic approach seems very favorable, Robotic surgery overcomes laparoscopic

Keywords: Anastomosis; Crohn disease; Ileocolic resection; Intracorporeal; Laparoscopy; Robotics.