Increasing Use of Robotic Cholecystectomy for Obese Patients

Robotic cholecystectomy is on the rise, especially among obese patients, but it does not improve postoperative outcomes compared to laparoscopic surgery.

• Robotic surgery utilization increased significantly from 23.1% in 2020 to 55.8% in 2024 for patients with BMI ≥ 50 kg/m².
• Obese patients (BMI 35-49.9 kg/m²) were 15% more likely to have robotic surgery; those with BMI ≥ 50 kg/m² were 34% more likely.
• No difference in complication rates was observed between robotic and laparoscopic approaches across BMI groups.

Consider offering robotic cholecystectomy to obese patients, knowing it may address technical challenges without changing outcome profiles.