Robotic versus laparoscopic surgery for middle and low rectal cancer

The postulated benefits of robotic surgery for total mesorectum excision (TME) were challenged by the results of the ROLARR trial, published in 2017.1 However, one of the main limitations of the trial was the difference in experience of participating surgeons between laparoscopy and robotics.2 Adjustment for learning effects showed that robotic surgery decreased the incidence of conversion to open surgery, which was the primary outcome of the trial.3