Port positioning and docking for single-stage totally robotic dissection for rectal cancer surgery with the Si and Xi Da Vinci Surgical System

We have previously reported our technique of single-docking totally robotic dissection for rectal cancer surgery using the Da Vinci^® Si Surgical System in 2009. However, we have since optimised our port placement for the Si system and have developed a novel configuration of port placement and docking for the Da Vinci^® Xi Surgical System. We have performed over 700 cases using this technique with the Si system and have used our Xi technique since 2016 for totally robotic dissection for rectal cancer. We have kept the configuration of port placements for both the Xi and Si system as similar as possible, with the priorities to avoid arm collisions as well as to provide a workable port configuration of two left-handed instruments and one right-handed instrument. To date, there have had no major complications or arm collisions related to this technique of docking, port positioning and instrument placement.