RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Meta-analysis of Robot-assisted Versus Laparoscopic Surgery for Rectal Cancer JF In Vivo JO In Vivo FD International Institute of Anticancer Research SP 611 OP 623 VO 32 IS 3 A1 HIROSHI OHTANI A1 KIYOSHI MAEDA A1 SHINYA NOMURA A1 OSAMU SHINTO A1 YOKO MIZUYAMA A1 HIROJI NAKAGAWA A1 HISASHI NAGAHARA A1 MASATSUNE SHIBUTANI A1 TATSUNARI FUKUOKA A1 RYOSUKE AMANO A1 KOSEI HIRAKAWA A1 MASAICHI OHIRA YR 2018 UL http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/32/3/611.abstract AB Background/Aim: A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate and compare the short- and long-term outcomes of robot-assisted (RAS) and conventional laparoscopic surgery (LAS) for rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: We searched MEDLINE for relevant papers published between 2010 and December 2017 by using specific search terms. We analyzed outcomes over short- and long-term periods. Results: We identified 23 papers reporting results that compared RAS for rectal cancer with LAS. Our meta-analysis included 4,348 patients with rectal cancer; 2,068 had undergone RAS, and 2,280 had undergone LAS. In the short- and long-term period, 27 and 7 outcome variables were examined, respectively. RAS for rectal cancer was significantly associated with a greater operative time and a lower conversion rate to open surgery in the short-term, and results in almost similar outcomes in the long-term, compared to LAS. Conclusion: RAS may be an acceptable surgical treatment option compared to LAS for rectal cancer.