Minimally invasive surgery has improved outcomes following colorectal resections. Compared to the open approach, laparoscopy has demonstrated numerous advantages concerning short-term results, such as reduced postoperative pain, faster bowel and physical function recovery, shorter length of stay, and enhanced cosmesis (1). When considering long-term outcomes, laparoscopy is also associated with reduced incidence of small bowel obstruction, adhesion formation, and incisional hernias. Additionally, compared to open surgery, laparoscopic resection has no detrimental impact on oncological outcomes. These attributes have firmly established laparoscopy as the gold standard for colorectal resections (1).

In recent years, robotic-assisted colorectal procedures have gained interest, particularly in the context of rectal cancer resection. The recent REAL trial (robotic vs. laparoscopic surgery for middle and low rectal cancer: short-term outcomes of a multicentre randomised controlled trial) suggested that robotic surgery yields better short-term outcomes for middle and low rectal cancer than conventional laparoscopic surgery, including lower rates of positive circumferential margins, fewer conversions to open surgery, and a faster postoperative recovery (2). Conversely, the ROLARR and COLRAR trials failed to demonstrate the superiority of robotics over laparoscopy (3, 4). However, the ROLARR trial had sole significative bias due to comparing outcomes from expert laparoscopists vs. early robotic adopters with different stages in their learning curve, whilst the COLRAR was terminated prematurely because of poor accrual of data. Long-term results of the REAL trial and other multicentric RCTs are needed to confirm these results.

Robotic surgical platforms are designed to overcome the limitations inherent to laparoscopic surgery with straight instruments. Some technical advantages of robotic surgery include a stable and highly magnified three-dimensional visualisation, a surgeon-controlled environment, optimised ergonomic design, EndoWrist instruments allowing for seven degrees of freedom, motion scaling, and tremor filtering (5, 6).

Notwithstanding these potential advantages, the considerable cost remains a principal drawback of robotic surgery compared to conventional laparoscopic surgery (7). As is well-established with other technological advancements, this barrier frequently carries along disparities in healthcare access due to economic circumstances, particularly in lower and middle-income countries (LMICs) (8).

Latin America (LATAM) is a prominent example of an extremely wide geographical region wherein the paucity of financial resources carries along restricted access to cutting-edge technologies. To the best of our knowledge, the first robotic-assisted colorectal procedure in Latin America was conducted in Brazil in 2008 by Averbach and colleagues to treat deep infiltrating endometriosis with rectal involvement (9). Since then, a substantial proliferation of robotic colorectal procedures has been observed throughout LATAM. However, data regarding intraoperative and early postoperative outcomes and oncological and long-term results is scarce. On the other hand, the current development of new and more sustainable robotic platforms is increasing the interest for LMICs in adopting this novel approach.

Based on the identified research gap, this systematic review seeks to examine, assess, and summarize the current surgical results of robotic-assisted colorectal surgery in LATAM. The goal is to establish a foundation for effective policy enhancements in the field of colorectal robotic surgery. Specifically, the primary objective is to review research on the intraoperative and short-term outcomes of colorectal robotic surgeries conducted in LATAM. The secondary objective is to evaluate pathological and long-term outcomes for the subset of oncological procedures.

A total of 9,694 published articles were identified from the initial search. Nine thousand six hundred thirty-six publications were excluded after title and abstract review and removal of duplicates. Fifty-eight articles were thoroughly reviewed, and 11 studies (11–21) met the inclusion criteria. Figure 1 demonstrates the PRISMA flow diagram.

Seven articles were produced in Brazil, two in Mexico, one in Argentina and one in Chile. Most studies were retrospective series. No randomised controlled trial was identified. Just one study presented a comparative analysis between robotic, laparoscopic and open approaches. Additionally, studies had a small sample size. Just two studies presented a sample size greater than 100 patients.

Of the 11 studies included in the analysis, ten addressed intraoperative and early postoperative outcomes, seven addressed oncological/pathological outcomes, and just one addressed long-term outcomes.

The methodological quality appraisal of the 11 studies included is described in Table 1. Generally, the overall study quality was poor due to their retrospective, registry-based nature. The risk of bias should be considered high in 5 of the 11 studies. In most studies, it was unclear whether case series had consecutive and complete inclusion of participants.

Latin American countries are witnessing a notable implementation of robotic colorectal surgery despite socioeconomic constraints and the high cost associated with acquiring and maintaining robotic platforms. In Brazil, for instance, 106 da Vinci (Intuitive Surgical Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA) robotic systems had been installed by 2023. However, a noticeable discrepancy exists in the distribution of this technology, with most robotic systems only accessible to private institutions and larger economic centres (22). By 2017, only ten public hospitals across Latin America had acquired robotic systems, and half of the institutions had their programmes temporarily or definitively interrupted, mainly due to the high costs of disposable instruments (23). As a result, a large portion of the population reliant on the public healthcare system faces considerable delays in accessing advanced healthcare technologies like robotic surgery. Economic barriers also hinder the development of structured training programs, leading to a shortage of specialized surgeons, a lack of standardized surgical training, and network issues that contribute to disparities between different socioeconomic settings. To date, in Latin America, the training process has been largely driven by the industry and private institutions that have adopted robotic surgical platforms (22).

This systematic review has revealed that the currently available data on surgical outcomes are limited and of poor quality. No randomized controlled trials were identified in the literature search, and even the retrospective series had limitations, such as a reduced number of patients and the absence of multicentric studies. Additionally, just one study has addressed long-term oncological outcomes, limiting the ability to draw conclusions about the broader impact of robotic surgery on survival and recurrence.

Moreover, from the included studies, only one (21) has conducted a comparative analysis with laparoscopic and open approaches. When discussing robotic abdominal procedures, it's important to compare them with the conventional approaches. This is particularly crucial in low- and middle-income countries, where we need to consider the costs and benefits to assess whether the adoption of robotic platforms is cost-effective.

Despite the methodological limitations, the findings of the existing studies demonstrate that robotic colorectal surgery in Latin America seems to be safe and feasible when it comes to perioperative and oncological outcomes. Notably, low conversion rates to open surgery and reasonable operative times were identified. Morbidity and mortality rates were also comparable to the data reported in the literature (24). A relevant sign of surgical oncological quality is the harvested lymph node rate, which ranges from 10 to 22. Khajeh and colleagues recently conducted a meta-analysis on the outcomes of robotic rectal cancer surgery. The number of excised lymph nodes was reported in 15 studies comprising 3,084 patients (1,569 patients in the robotic and 1,515 patients in the laparoscopic group). The mean number of harvested lymph nodes ranged from 10.3 to 25.5 in the robotic group, and the pooled analysis showed no significant difference compared to the laparoscopic group (24).

Regarding surgical margins, one study from LATAM found a rate of 16.4% of involved circumferential resection margins among 59 patients with distal rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent robotic-assisted resection. In comparison with open (15.8%) and laparoscopic (15.5%) approaches, there was no statistically significant difference (21). These results should be interpreted with caution since the data came from a single institution, and the robotic group comprises unselected consecutive patients who were operated on by three surgeons in their initial experience with the robotic approach. The impact of the learning curve should be emphasized, highlighting the early experiences of the Latin-American institutions. Therefore, it is currently not appropriate to directly compare the outcomes with those from well-established techniques, such as laparoscopy, or from centres of excellence in East Asia or Europe, but it is relevant for investigating the current trend in LATAM.

Evidence coming from Europe, the USA, China, Australia and India describing the initial experience of robotic colorectal surgery has been showing reduced conversion rates to open surgery, comparable short-term outcomes to conventional laparoscopic surgery, and adequate pathological and oncological outcomes (25–29). This kind of data suggests that Latin America is charting a comparable course. Undoubtedly, there are unique challenges not encountered by developed countries, including economic obstacles in establishing structured training programmes and high-quality centres for the development of robotic surgery. Nonetheless, the emerging data from Latin American institutions indicates that robotic colorectal surgery appears to be both safe and feasible.

To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the very first analysis of outcomes associated with robotic colorectal surgery throughout LATAM. A comprehensive literature search was conducted, encompassing key Latin American databases. As mentioned earlier, the principal limitations of this study are associated with the generally low quality of the included articles. Included papers were, for the most part, either retrospective or involved retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database. Most of the case series also derived from single-institution experiences with small patient cohorts, considerably impairing the sample's representativeness. There is also a lack of critical discussion of confounding factors. Furthermore, the absence of identified randomised controlled trials is noteworthy. Additionally, there is significant heterogeneity among the included papers, blending analyses of both oncological and benign conditions. Therefore, it was not possible to synthesise the results or carry out a meta-analysis as the studies were clearly heterogeneous. Overall, the study provides valuable insight into robotic colorectal surgery in LATAM, but the quality and variability of the available evidence constrain the conclusions. Higher-quality studies, especially randomized controlled trials and multi-institutional analyses with larger cohorts, will be needed to provide more definitive conclusions.

Latin America has witnessed an increasing rate of robotic surgical platforms installed, mainly within private institutions and large socioeconomic centres. In the domain of colorectal surgery, few studies have been addressing the intraoperative, postoperative, pathological, and oncological outcomes of this approach in this region. More studies are needed to assess the real extent of robotic surgery in the region and its results. Future research should concentrate on augmenting high-quality data concerning both short-term and long-term outcomes of the implementation of this technology. Additionally, comparisons with established techniques, such as laparoscopic approaches, should be explored to further enhance the understanding of the technology's efficacy, applications, and limitations.

Healthcare systems across Latin America continue to face substantial structural problems and economic hurdles. Despite these challenges, surgical leaders and health managers must spearhead efforts to establish structured programmes guiding the adoption and training of robotic colorectal surgery. Centres of high-quality healthcare should play a central role in disseminating knowledge and preparing surgeons and other healthcare professionals to propagate new technologies and techniques throughout the countries. Creating a regional database is also imperative for recording clinical and surgical outcomes. Moreover, international collaboration could facilitate the establishment of high-quality centres and support the development of randomized controlled trials and multi-institutional analyses. Through this initiative, LATAM can generate auditable data, fostering a cycle of improvement. Anticipated technological advancements and increased market competition are expected to lead to cost reductions, thereby facilitating a more widespread deployment of robotic platforms and the subsequent democratisation of access. The expanding use of 5G communication technology opens opportunities for telesurgery and telementoring, enabling experienced surgeons to supervise another surgeon or trainee in a remote location. This tool can contribute significantly to delivering high-quality healthcare to remote and isolated communities in a region with vast geographical dimensions like LATAM.