Trans-abdominal single-incision robotic surgery with the da Vinci SP® surgical system for 8 cases of retrorectal tumour

Background: This study aimed to evaluate transabdominal single-incision robotic surgery using the da Vinci SP (dVSP, Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) surgical system for retrorectal tumours. Methods: Eight patients who underwent surgical excision of retrorectal tumours using the dVSP surgical system were retrospectively analysed. Results: Five patients (62.5%) had tumours positioned above the levator ani muscle, two (25.0%) had that extending across the levator ani muscle, and one (12.5%) had that located below the levator ani muscle. All surgical procedures were successfully completed without any intraoperative complications. The median operative, docking, and console times were 198, 6, and 145 min, respectively. Two patients (25.0%) experienced postoperative complications classified as Clavien-Dindo grade II. The median duration of follow-up was 6.5 months, and no recurrence was observed. Conclusions: In our early experience of eight patients, retrorectal tumours can be safely excised with the dVSP surgical system, even at very low tumour levels.