Magnetic Robot–Assisted Single-Incision Cholecystectomy
Alfredo Daniel Guerron, MD, Camila Belen Ortega, MD, Chan Park, MD, Dana Portenier, MD
Department of Surgery, Duke University Health System, Durham, North Carolina, USA (all authors).
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Single-incision techniques limit triangulation, surgeon mobility, and organ visualization. The use of robot-assisted platforms has addressed several of these difficulties; however, it has also generated new challenges. To overcome these problems, we used a magnetic organ-retraction system recently approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration. In the present study, we report the first single-incision cholecystectomy performed combining magnetic and robotic technologies.
Case Description: The patient was a 48-year-old woman (BMI, 33 kg/m2) with cholelithiasis, who was scheduled for elective cholecystectomy with a single-incision magnetic robot-assisted procedure. The total procedure took 89 minutes (including docking); operative time was 58 minutes, where magnetic coupling was 51 minutes. Estimated blood loss was minimal. There were no complications. The patient was discharged home on the same day and was entirely satisfied with the surgery results.
Conclusion: The combination of these technologies is feasible and simplifies single-incision techniques.
Key Words: Cholecystectomy, Innovation, Magnetic surgery, Robotic surgery, Single incision.