Robotic Surgery Beats Laparoscopy in Rectal Cancer Recovery

Robotic colorectal surgery (RCS) significantly accelerates bowel function recovery and reduces major complications compared to laparoscopic colorectal surgery (LCS). In a meta-analysis of 1,731 patients, RCS showed a 0.62-day improvement in bowel function, a 30% decrease in major complications, and a lower conversion rate to open surgery. Although RCS required 22.7 additional minutes of operative time, its advantages in recovery and precision support its expanded use in colorectal cancer treatment.