Robot-assisted surgery tied to Higher postoperative Pulmonary Complications versus conventional laparoscopic surgery: Study

However, when researchers adjusted for potential confounders, only ventilation duration—not intensity or surgical approach itself—was independently associated with pulmonary complications, suggesting that prolonged ventilation times during robot-assisted procedures may explain the elevated risks rather than the robotic technique alone. This distinction is clinically meaningful, as it emphasizes the role of anesthetic management and ventilatory strategies in reducing pulmonary risks, rather than placing the burden solely on surgical modality choice. The findings also underscore the importance of enhanced intraoperative monitoring, lung-protective ventilation strategies, and careful postoperative respiratory care for patients undergoing robot-assisted operations, particularly given the increasing adoption of robotic platforms in general and subspecialty surgery.

Pulmonary complications remain a leading cause of morbidity after abdominal surgery, and understanding modifiable contributors such as ventilation time provides an avenue for targeted interventions to improve outcomes. While the data indicate that robot-assisted procedures may expose patients to longer anesthetic and ventilation times, they also suggest that optimizing perioperative respiratory management could mitigate risks without negating the potential benefits of robotic technology, such as improved dexterity, visualization, and precision. The authors conclude that further research should evaluate strategies to shorten ventilation duration and assess whether tailored respiratory care protocols can reduce pulmonary complication rates in robot-assisted surgery, ultimately supporting safer integration of robotic systems into surgical practice.