Single-Port Robotic Surgery Allows Transanal Rectal Cancer Surgery with Same-Day Release at Hackensack University Medical Center

Colorectal surgeons access center’s two on-site da Vinci SP robots for newly FDA-approved sphincter-sparing procedures

Hackensack University Medical Center offers precision sphincter-sparing rectal cancer surgery with the newest robotic technology available, Intuitive da Vinci SP, which was just FDA-approved for colorectal surgery in recent months.

For select patients, the single-port robot allows surgeons precision access to the very low pelvic in a transanal approach—which allows for elective procedures with same-day release and the comfort of an at-home recovery.

Hackensack University Medical Center already had two da Vinci SP robots on-site, as they were prior approved and adopted early at the center for urological procedures. Two colorectal surgeons received training on the single-port system, allowing Hackensack University Medical Center to quickly offer this new colorectal option to patients.

While less invasive, precision surgical technology leads to sphincter-sparing options for more rectal cancer patients, collaboration and advances in medical treatment protocols mean fewer surgery candidates ever enter the operating suite.

With better risk stratification and the move to proven neoadjuvant radiation and chemotherapy regimens, 30% of patients experience complete clinical response and do not require surgery, said Steven Lee-Kong, M.D., Chair of Colorectal Surgery, Hackensack University Medical Center.

“In the last couple years, we’ve had a subset of patients who are candidates for preoperative immunotherapy. Currently, these patients are still undergoing surgery as the data is too new to consider cases resolved,” he said, while noting optimism regarding immunotherapy’s potential as an effective neoadjuvant.

When cases do still go to surgery, patients benefit from the tissue-sparing precision of robotic instrumentation. To coordinate the best, multidisciplinary approach for each patient, Hackensack University Medical Center holds weekly GI Tumor board meetings for collaborative case discussion.

Learn more about GI surgical innovations happening at Hackensack University Medical Center.