Robotic Versus Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass for Morbid Obesity: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

We aim to summarize the existing evidence to compare the surgical outcomes of robotic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RRYGB) and laparoscopic RYGB (LRYGB) and to determine if these two procedures are equivalent. Literature searches were conducted by a comprehensive search in PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. Nineteen articles met the inclusion criteria for this review. The robotic and laparoscopic procedures had no significant differences in hospitalization time, conversion, reoperation, readmission, and postoperative complications. However, RRYGB was associated with a longer mean operative time. RRYGB was not found to be superior to LRYGB. Future studies that would report detailed meaningful postoperative outcomes, such as complications and percentage of excess weight loss, are required to determine any further differences in the efficacy between RRYGB and LRYGB.