**Intuitive Surgical** (Nasdaq:ISRG) unveiled results from a comprehensive analysis of surgical results spanning various robotic operations.
The prestigious Annals of Surgery has published a thorough examination of surgical outcomes over a 30-day period across seven cancer-related surgeries. This analysis compared robotic, laparoscopic, and traditional open surgery techniques, drawing from data over the past 12 years. The review considered 230 studies from 22 countries, featuring 34 randomized controlled trials, 74 prospective studies, and 122 database reviews.
More than a million procedures were analyzed for each surgical method.
Researchers from Intuitive and Massachusetts General Hospital led the review, highlighting the numerous advantages of robotic surgery using the prominent da Vinci system when compared to laparoscopy and open surgery.
“Robotic surgery with the da Vinci system resulted in fewer conversions, minimized blood loss, reduced need for blood transfusions, and fewer readmissions and reoperations, along with a shorter hospital stay within 30 days,” stated Dr. Myriam Curet, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Intuitive. “The Annals of Surgery editors meticulously reviewed and verified this study before inclusion. The robust scientific data we observe after decades of robotic surgeries emphasizes the continuing benefit of the da Vinci robotic approach in enhancing surgical outcomes.”
**Examining Supporting Data for Intuitive Surgical Robotic Techniques**
Intuitive reported that the analysis concluded da Vinci procedures were 56% less likely to convert to open surgeries as opposed to laparoscopy, experiencing lesser blood loss than open surgeries and similar volumes to laparoscopy.
Patients undergoing da Vinci surgeries had a 21% reduced likelihood of requiring blood transfusions compared to laparoscopy and 75% compared to open surgery. Additionally, the likelihood of encountering 30-day post-operative complications was 10% and 44% lower when compared to laparoscopy and open procedures, respectively. The data also showed a reduction in hospital stay by half a day relative to laparoscopy, and 1.9 days fewer than open surgery. However, operative duration for da Vinci was longer by 17.7 minutes compared to laparoscopy and 40.9 minutes longer than open procedures.
Intuitive highlighted that earlier studies comparing perioperative outcomes focused on individual surgeries, which resulted in specific evaluations for each procedure. This review gathered insights from numerous trials, cohorts, and databases across a 12-year span, concentrating on 30-day outcomes pertinent to oncology surgeries that demand intricate access.
“Our study showcases the impact of robotics both within the rigorously controlled clinical settings of randomized trials and in broader, real-world population studies,” said Dr. Rocco Ricciardi, lead author and chief of colon and rectal surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. “Ultimately, confirming population-based benefits of robotics allows us to ascertain the worth of robotic surgeries for the average patient who might require intervention.”