Robotic ventral rectopexy

Robotic surgery is a safe technique for the treatment of rectal prolapse with specific advantages over both open abdominal and laparoscopic techniques. Robotic surgery provides high-quality, three-dimensional visualization of the pelvic anatomy while facilitating the dissection of the rectovaginal septum and suturing in the deep pelvis compared to laparoscopic techniques. These advantages make robotic surgery ideally suited for minimally invasive ventral rectopexy, a technique with a proven low recurrence rate and excellent functional outcomes. Although robotic surgery is associated with longer operative times, these times can be reduced with increased experience. The major disadvantage of robotic surgery still remains a higher hospital cost compared with laparoscopy and open techniques. Despite a growing body of evidence, there is still limited clinical data regarding the benefits of robotic surgery and further prospective clinical trials are needed to affirm the role of robotic surgery in the treatment of rectal prolapse.