Retrospective analysis of robot-assisted versus standard laparoscopy in the treatment of pelvic pain indicative of endometriosis

We examined the feasibility of treating pelvic pain in patients with suspected endometriosis using robot-assisted laparoscopic techniques compared with CO₂ laser laparoscopy, in a retrospective review from a single surgeon’s practice, including the last 100 standard laparoscopic (December 2004–September 2007) and the first 180 robot-assisted (July 2007–January 2010) surgeries to treat suspected endometriosis. Perioperative outcomes and postoperative pain were compared by technique. Patients in each group were comparable in gravidity, body mass index, prior endometriosis, prior abdominopelvic surgery, American Fertility Society stage, and biopsy rates. Operative time (77 vs. 72 min), blood loss (29 vs. 25 mL), and complication rates (1.1 vs. 0 %) in robot-assisted and standard laparoscopy were low and similar for both approaches. Differences were apparent in biopsies confirming endometriosis (80 % robot-assisted vs. 56.8 % traditional laparoscopy, p < 0.001). Most patients reported improved postoperative pain at the first follow-up visit with no differences between the surgical approaches (85 % vs. 80 %, p = 0.365). Perioperative outcomes with robot-assisted surgery were comparable to outcomes using CO₂ laser laparoscopy. Further investigation is needed to ascertain whether robotics provides better visual acuity and excision of endometriosis, as suggested by these data, and if long-term resolution of symptoms and fertility outcomes differ by surgical approach.