Comparative Outcomes of Open, Laparoscopic, and Robotic Right Colectomy for Colon Cancer: Postoperative Recovery, Surgical Quality, and 3-Year Survival—A Monocentric Retrospective Study

Abstract

Simple Summary Surgery is the main treatment for cancer of the right side of the colon, and it can be performed in three ways: through a large open incision, with keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery, or with the assistance of a surgical robot. It remains unclear whether the newer minimally invasive techniques offer real advantages over open surgery in terms of recovery, the quality of the cancer operation, and long-term survival. In this study, we reviewed 89 patients treated at a single German university hospital and compared the three approaches. Patients recovered somewhat faster after keyhole and robotic surgery, and no difference in the quality of the cancer removal between the three methods could be demonstrated, although the minimally invasive operations took longer. Once differences between patients were taken into account, we could not demonstrate an independent effect of the surgical approach on recovery or three-year survival, although the study was too small to rule out meaningful differences. These findings suggest that all three techniques are reasonable options and that the choice should be guided by the individual patient and the surgeon’s experience.