A new prospective study, the COMPAR-CRC trial, has compared outcomes of robot-assisted colon cancer surgery using three different robotic platforms: the established Da Vinci Xi, and the newer Hugo™ RAS and Versius® systems. The findings, published in Laparoscopic, Endoscopic and Robotic Surgery, indicate that while all three platforms are feasible in the hands of experienced surgeons, there were notable differences in conversion rates and technical performance.
The study enrolled 45 consecutive adult patients undergoing robotic colon resection between February and December 2024 at two surgical units. Two experienced colorectal surgeons performed all procedures, with each robotic platform used in 15 cases. The primary outcomes were conversion to laparoscopy or open surgery and intra-operative complications. Secondary outcomes included post-operative recovery, oncological results, and platform-specific technical parameters.
The mean age of patients was 66.8 years, and 68.9% underwent surgery for colon cancer. No conversions occurred in the Da Vinci group, whereas two conversions to laparoscopy were recorded with Hugo™ RAS and three with Versius®. One intra-operative instrument malfunction occurred with Hugo™ RAS, and one surgical complication was reported in each group. No significant differences emerged in post-operative recovery or oncological outcomes.
However, Versius® cases required more frequent use of laparoscopic energy devices (p < 0.001), and Hugo™ RAS was associated with a longer total operating room time (p = 0.022) and longer incision length (p = 0.005). These differences may have implications for surgical workflow and patient outcomes.
The authors conclude that robotic colorectal surgery with all three platforms is feasible when performed by expert surgeons. While early outcomes are encouraging, larger comparative trials are needed to confirm differences in recovery and oncological efficacy. The study is part of the ongoing COMPAR trial and provides early real-world evidence for the newer robotic systems.
For further details, the full article is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lers.2025.10.001.