Robotic versus laparoscopic surgery in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of recovery-centered outcomes.

J Robot SurgSep 26, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchGeneral SurgeryGeriatricsOpen access

Lin Wang, Chenglu Ruan

✦ AI-curated · Sources linked

In 30 seconds

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated recovery-centered outcomes of robotic versus laparoscopic surgery in older adults, analyzing 41 observational studies. The analysis indicated that robotic surgery may reduce conversion rates in colorectal procedures (exploratory OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.18-0.72), but overall morbidity results were inconclusive.

Key findings

  • Robotic surgery showed a reduced conversion rate in colorectal procedures (exploratory OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.18-0.72).
  • Overall morbidity for robotic versus laparoscopic surgery was inconclusive (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.43-1.05).
  • Severe morbidity and gastric complication outcomes were imprecise and underreported.
  • Frailty and functional recovery metrics were inadequately measured across studies.

Why it matters

Understanding the comparative effectiveness of robotic versus laparoscopic surgery in older adults is crucial for optimizing surgical outcomes and recovery strategies in this vulnerable population.

What to keep in mind

The study included only observational comparative studies, lacking randomized trials, which limits the strength of the conclusions.

Source

PubMed · PMID 42799899Free full text on PubMed Central

Published in J Robot Surg. This summary was written by xxcode from the publication's abstract and metadata. It is not peer reviewed and is not a substitute for the original article. For clinical decisions, review the original publication.

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