Short-term Outcomes of Robot-assisted and Laparoscopic Intersphincteric Rectal Resection

Background: Few studies have compared the outcomes of robot-assisted intersphincteric rectal resection (Ro-ISR) and laparoscopic ISR (Lap-ISR) for the management of lower rectal cancer. This study aimed to compare the short-term outcomes of Ro-ISR and Lap-ISR. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the short-term outcomes of 101 patients who underwent ISR as the primary treatment for rectal cancer between 2005 and 2020.Results: The Ro-ISR group comprised 55 patients, while the Lap-ISR group consisted of 46 patients. The distance from the anal verge to the lower margin of the tumor was 3.0 cm in the Ro-ISR group and 4.0 cm in the Lap-ISR group (p