EP634 - Outcomes in Robotic-Assisted, Laparoscopic, and Hand-assisted Laparoscopic Colectomy Surgery in a Rural Setting

Sunday, May 10, 2026

4:17 PM - 4:22 PM ET

ePoster Presenter(s)

Kristin N. Wagers, MD

Categorical General Surgery Resident
Bassett Medical Center
Bassett Medical Center
cooperstown, NY, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

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Author(s)

Lydia M. Rafferty, MD

Surgery Resident
Bassett Medical Center
Cooperstown, NY, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
SM

Sean Morton, MD

Surgical Resident
Bassett Medical Center
Cooperstown, New York, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
MS

Melissa B. Scribani, PhD

Research Scientist
Bassett Medical Center, Bassett Research Institute
Cooperstown, New York, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
RK

Rahima Khatun, MD

Resident Physician
Bassett Medical Center
Cooperstown, New York, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
RM

Raul Monzon, MD

Colorectal Surgeon, Division Chair General Surgery
Bassett Medical Center
Cooperstown, New York, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Senior Author(s)

LO

Luis Oceguera, MD

Colorectal Surgeon, Chief of Surgery
Bassett Medical Center
Cooperstown, New York, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Purpose/Background: Rural centers are rapidly adopting robotic technology, but not much is written about the effects of this change on colorectal outcomes in rural community hospitals. In rural centers with fellowship trained colorectal surgeons, the use of colorectal robotic surgery has grown. Evaluating surgical outcomes is vital to ensure that technological advances translate into meaningful improvements in patient care, safety, and healthcare efficiency. The aim of this study was to examine how operative technique in colectomy surgery including robotic-assisted, hand-assisted laparoscopic, and laparoscopic affects outcomes in a rural setting.

Methods/Interventions: Patients who underwent robotic-assisted, hand-assisted laparoscopic, or laparoscopic colectomy between 2018-2024 were retrospectively identified utilizing CPT codes. Emergent cases were excluded. Patients were identified from a hospital network in a region with a RUCA category 7-10 (rural/small town core) classification. Differences between robotic, laparoscopic and hand-assisted procedures in surgical time and Length of Stay (LOS) were tested using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Comparisons between patient characteristics in robotic, laparoscopic and hand-assisted procedures were done by chi-square for categorical variables (e.g. gender, presence of comorbidities) or by ANOVA for continuous variables (e.g. age, BMI).

Results/Outcomes: A total of 488 patients were included (mean age 63.3). 116 (23.8%) hand-assisted, 256 (52.5%) laparoscopic, and 115 (23.8%) robotic-assisted. There were no differences between procedure types with respect to mean age or mean BMI and similar prevalence of comorbidities between groups. No significant differences in length of stay among robotic procedures as compared to laparoscopic or hand-assisted (p=0.40). Significantly longer surgical time among robotic procedures as compared to laparoscopic and hand-assisted (6.25 hr, 4.57 hr, 4.25 hr; P< 0.001). Lower frequency of readmission among robotic cases, though not statistically significantly different from hand-assisted laparoscopic and laparoscopic (p=0.21).

Conclusion/Discussion: Robotic-assisted colectomy versus hand-assisted/laparoscopic colectomy had significantly longer hospital stay and surgical time which may have added cost and risk associated. There was no significant difference between readmission rates. Further investigation into surgical complications between groups is being conducted. These factors can have a big impact in a rural setting where resources and robotic access may be limited.

Figure 1.

Mean Length of Stay and Mean Surgical Time, all subjects (n=116 HAL, n=256 Laparoscopic, n=116 Robotic)