Robotic resection of paediatric solid tumours at a single institution

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To explore the clinical application of robotic-assisted surgery in paediatric solid tumours and to explore its feasibility. METHODS: From 2015 to 2022, 53 children with solid tumours underwent robotic-assisted surgery in our centre were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: The mean weight of the patients was 27.7 kg, and the mean age was 6.7 years. The average tumour volume was 5.5*4.6*3.7 cm. Two procedures (3.8%) were converted. The mean total operative time was 198.5 min. The mean estimated blood loss was 27.1 ml, and no intraoperative complications occurred. Two (3.8%) patients had postoperative complications. At a median follow-up of 21.2 months, one (1.9%) patient with malignant tumours stopped treatment, and two (3.8%) patients developed tumour recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic-assisted tumour resection is feasible in highly selected cases of young age, light weight, huge tumour or malignant tumour.