Robotic vs open gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a propensity score-matched analysis on short and long-term outcomes

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was compare short- and long-term outcomes between robotic (RG) and standard open gastrectomy (OG). METHODS: This is a single-center propensity score-matched study including patients who underwent RG or OG for gastric cancer between 2008 and 2018. RESULTS: In total, 191 patients could be included for analysis. Of 60 RG patients, 49 could be matched. After matching, significant differences in baseline characteristics were no longer present. Operative time was significantly longer (451 min, IQR: 392-513) in the RG group than in the OG (262 min, IQR: 225-330) (P < .0001). No significant differences in postoperative complications between RG (n = 15, 30.6%) and OG (n = 15, 30.6%) were seen (P = 1.000). Overall survival was comparable between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: RG is feasible and safe. With regard to long-term oncologic outcomes, survivals in the RG group were similar to those in OG group.