Comparison of the outcomes of robotic cholecystectomy and laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

PURPOSE: This study compared the effects of robotic single-port cholecystectomy (RC) and 3-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) on patients' surgical pain, postoperative complications, and satisfaction.

METHODS: One hundred twenty patients with gallbladder disease scheduled for either LC or RC were recruited. Each patient was followed up for 1 week after hospital discharge.

RESULTS: Time stayed in operating room was longer in patients with RC, however their hospital stay was shorter than those with LC (t = 3.01, P = 0.003). Since patients with RC received more analgesics during the surgery (t = 3.98, P < 0.001), all participants' surgical pain level were analyzed by using analysis of covariance. Patients who underwent RC reported less surgical pain consistently at 6 hours and first day after surgery and 2 days and 1 week later than patients in the LC. Repeated measure analysis of variance also demonstrated that the RC with single-port might cause less pain throughout the postoperative period (F = 25.68, P < 0.001). Participants' conditions appeared stable without complications such as infection or bleeding regardless of the surgical type however, overall satisfaction with RC showed significantly higher than those with LC except for one item, "the cost of surgery."

CONCLUSION: These results suggested that the RC might be a better choice for people who concern about surgical pain and early hospital discharge. Since there were no differences in postoperative health status between the 2 groups, health care providers as an advocate can provide more reliable information to their patients.