Robotic Versus Laparoscopic Gastrectomy for Gastric Adenocarcinoma: Propensity-Matched Analysis

Background. We compared the outcomes of laparoscopic-assisted (LA) and robotic-assisted (RA) gastrectomies performed for gastric adenocarcinoma in the National Cancer Database. Methods. The National Cancer Database was queried for patients 18 years old with stages I to III gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent LA or RA gastrectomy. Propensity matching was performed between the 2 groups with regard to clinical staging, adjuvant treatment, demographics, and the extent of surgery. Results. A cohort of 1893 (1262 = LA, 631 = RA) patients was identified in a 2:1 propensity matching. The groups were well matched. The rate of negative margin as well as 30- and 90-day mortality were similar between the 2 cohorts. Long-term survival was similar between the 2 groups (median survival 49.2 months in LA vs 56.2 months for RA, P = .405). However, the average number of lymph nodes (LNs) sampled was significantly higher in the RA group compared with the LA group (19.6 vs 17.4, P < .001). Similarly, the percentage of surgeries in which >= 15 LNs were sampled was also greater in the RA group compared with the LA group (63.9% vs 57.6%, P = .010). On multivariable analysis, having 15 LNs or more examined was associated with better survival (hazard ratio = 0.72, 95% confidence interval = 0.60-0.87, P < .001). Advanced age, nodal positivity, and advanced clinical stages were significantly associated with worse survival. Conclusions. RA gastrectomy may allow a greater harvest of LNs, and thus more accurate staging, without increasing short-term adverse outcomes compared with LA gastrectomy. Short-term and long-term outcomes in this well-matched cohort appear comparable for both approaches.