Fewer severe complications with robotic emergency surgery

Among older adults having urgent abdominal surgery, robotic operations were linked to fewer severe complications and more discharges home, but not shorter stays after adjustment.

• The database included 58,940 patients; only 1,832 had robotic surgery.
• Conversion to open surgery occurred in 6.2% of robotic cases versus 12.9% of laparoscopic cases.

This was a retrospective comparison, and the choice of operation was not random. The findings show an association, not proof that robotic surgery caused better outcomes.