AB137. SOH25_AB_030. Using a modified Delphi process to explore international surgeon-reported benefits of robotic-assisted surgery to perform abdominal rectopexy
Colorectal Session

AB137. SOH25_AB_030. Using a modified Delphi process to explore international surgeon-reported benefits of robotic-assisted surgery to perform abdominal rectopexy

Taya Keating1, Christina Fleming2, Deirdre Nally3, Ann Brannigan3

1Department of Surgery, St. James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; 2Department of Surgery, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; 3Department of Surgery, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

Background: Robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) offers improved visualization and dexterity compared to laparoscopy. As a result, RAS is considered an attractive option for performing rectopexy, particularly in the confines of the lower pelvis. The aim of this study was to explore the benefits of RAS in rectopexy by analysing the views of a group of surgeons who have published on robotic rectopexy.

Methods: A three-round Delphi process was performed. Particular areas that were studied included: clinical aspects of patient selection, technical aspects of using RAS to perform rectopexy, ergonomic factors, training, and consideration of the ‘learning-curve’. Consensus was defined as agreement greater than 80% among participants (experienced RAS rectopexy surgeons identified using PubMed).

Results: Twenty international surgeons participated. Participants had median operative experience of 75 rectopexies and 11 robotic-rectopexies. All participants agreed that patient-reported functional outcomes and improved quality-of-life were the most important outcomes following rectopexy. Participants agreed the most significant benefits offered by RAS for rectopexy were improved precision due to better visualization (80%), dexterity (90%), and overall accuracy e.g., for suture placement (90%). Ninety percent agreed that the superior ergonomics of RAS rectopexy improved their performance on several steps of the operation, in particular: mesh fixation (85%) and rectovaginal dissection (80%). Consensus on the learning curve for RAS abdominal rectopexy was not achieved: 45% (n=9) reported the learning curve as 11–20 cases and 55% (n=11) as 21–30 cases.

Conclusions: A panel of surgeons who had published on RAS view that it positively improves performance of rectopexy in terms of technical skills, improved dexterity and visualization and ergonomics.

Keywords: Robotic; rectopexy; laparoscopic; delphi; mesh

Acknowledgments

None.

Footnote

Funding: None.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical Statement: The authors are accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Open Access Statement: This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits the non-commercial replication and distribution of the article with the strict proviso that no changes or edits are made and the original work is properly cited (including links to both the formal publication through the relevant DOI and the license). See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.

doi: 10.21037/map-25-ab137
Cite this abstract as: Keating T, Fleming C, Nally D, Brannigan A. AB137. SOH25_AB_030. Using a modified Delphi process to explore international surgeon-reported benefits of robotic-assisted surgery to perform abdominal rectopexy. Mesentery Peritoneum 2025;9:AB137.

Article Options

Download Citation

Share