To investigate the short-term clinical outcome of da Vinci robot-assisted radical distal gastrectomy in treating gastric neoplasms.

The clinical data of 60 patients with gastric neoplasms from January 2019 to June 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. According to the method of operation, 60 patients were divided into laparoscopic group (30 cases) and robot group (30 cases). Statistical analysis were performed by using SPSS 26.0 software. Count data such as objective remission rate, incidence of postoperative complications and short-term curative effect were analyzed by using χ² test. Measurement data such as perioperative index, pain score and quality of life score were expressed as (±s), and were examined by using independent t test. A P value of <0.05 was considered as statistically significant difference.

There was no significant difference between robot group and laparoscopic group in terms of operation time and objective remission rate of 80.0% and 73.3% (P>0.05) Compared with the laparoscopic group, much more harvested lymph nodes, less intraoperative bleeding and decreased postoperative complications (0% vs. 13.3%) were achieved in the robot group (P<0.05). The recovery time of bowel movement, the first time of exhaust, the first time of eating and the time of hospitalization in the robot group were shorter than those in the laparoscopic group respectively (P<0.05). The pain score of postoperative 12 h and 48 h in the robot group was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Within 1 month followed-up, the score of life quality in the robot group was much higher than that in the laparoscopic group (P<0.05).

Da Vinci robot-assisted radical distal gastrectomy for gastric neoplasms could achieve similar short-term clinical outcome as well as laparoscopic surgery, furthermore with reduced surgical trauma, decreased postoperative complications, enhanced postoperative recovery and improved quality of life.