Clinical analysis of robotic-assisted surgery in the treatment of large pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma: a study of 29 cases

This study aimed to compare the safety and clinical efficacy of Da Vinci robotic surgery (control group) versus traditional laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of large (tumor size >6 cm) pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas. The evaluation was based on intraoperative metrics such as operative time, blood loss, conversion to open surgery rates, postoperative drain duration, and length of postoperative hospital stay. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 29 patients (14 males and 15 females) who underwent Da Vinci robotic surgery for large (greater than 6 cm) pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas from October 2019 to September 2023. The average maximum tumor diameter was (7.2±1.6) cm. During the same period, 32 patients underwent laparoscopic resection of challenging pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas.Data showed no significant differences between the two groups, except for the norepinephrine levels. Operative time, blood loss, conversion rate, postoperative drainage duration, and length of hospital stay were recor