Feasibility of robotic single-incision colorectal surgery utilizing a multiport robotic platform: a case series

The advent of a single port robotic platform offers many potential improvements compared with single incision laparoscopy for both patients and surgeons. However, the technology will likely be prohibitively expensive for most hospitals. This is a retrospective review of adult patients who underwent our (rSIS) technique for a colorectal indication from December 2023 to April 2025. The primary aim of this study was to report our unique, single-incision robotic surgery (rSIS) technique utilizing a fascial wound protector device and a multiport robotic surgical system in colorectal surgery. Additionally, we assessed the feasibility and safety of our technique across the full spectrum of colorectal procedures. 50 patients were reviewed. 40% were men and 60% were women with an average age of 53.5 years and median BMI of 27.2 kg/m2. Pathologies treated included: Crohn’s (26%), diverticulitis (22%), colon cancer (16%), colostomy status (8%), rectal cancer (4%), deep infiltrating endometriosis (2%), colocutaneous fistula (2%), and other neoplasm (6%). Both right (14%) and left-sided (28%) colectomies as well as total colectomy (4%), rectal resection (4%), small bowel procedures (22%), and ostomy creation/reversal (18%) were all successfully performed. Intracorporeal (50%) and extracorporeal (42%) anastomoses were executed as indicated, regardless of procedure sidedness. There was a 0% conversion to open rate and a single case when additional robotic ports were needed. 30-day all-severity morbidity was 20% with 30-day major morbidity of 6%. Our rSIS technique utilizing a multiport robotic system is safe and feasible across a wide spectrum of colorectal procedures. Similar content being viewed by others Data availability No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study. Change history 20 November 2025 A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11701-025-02972-4

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RDB provided critical participation in the conception/design of the study as well as analysis/interpretation of the data and constructing the manuscript. All authors participated in the review of the manuscript, provided intellectual feedback, and approved submission. Corresponding author Ethics declarations Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests. Presentations A smaller subset of this research was presented as an e-Poster presentation at Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract and a video vignette was published in Colorectal Disease. Ethical statement This research was done in accordance with the standards of the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the University of South Florida Institutional Review Board (IRB) and was granted exemption status given its retrospective nature and no direct human contact was required; therefore, formal ethical approval was waived. 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