HELLER’S MYOTOMY ASSISTED BY ROBOT VS LAPAROSCOPIC HELLER’S MYOTOMY FOR THE TREATMENT OF ACHALASIA

Abstract

Minimally invasive surgery has become the gold standard for the treatment of achalasia. The incorporation of robotic technology overcomes the limitations of laparoscopic surgery, providing optimum three-dimensional vision, increasing the degrees of freedom of movement while preventing the fulcrum effect and increases ergonomics. Objective: the aim of this study was to compare robotic-assisted laparoscopic Heller myotomy with laparoscopic Heller myotomy in terms of efficacy and safety. Methods: forty-eight (48) patients with diagnosis of achalasia
confirmed by esophagogram and manometry were included. Dysphagia and weight loss were the main complaints in both groups. Results: twenty-five (25) patients were treated with laparoscopic Heller myotomy and twenty-three (23) patients were treated with robotic-assisted Heller myotomy. There was no difference in mean operative time (73 ± 13 vs 77 ± 18 min, p:0.39). Intraoperative adverse events were less frequent in the robotassisted procedures (8% vs. 0%), however, this was a non-significant difference (p:0.17). The effectiveness of the surgery is comparable in both approaches. Conclusion: Heller myotomy robot assisted is safe and effective. The operating time is not longer than laparoscopic Heller myotomy, but is necessary to evaluate the technique in randomized clinical trials to determine its advantages in terms of intraoperative adverse events.