Abstract

BackgroundRobotic beyond-TME resection is a novel surgical technique for management of locally advanced rectal cancer encroaching beyond the mesorectal fascial envelope. Many case reports describing the technique are published in video format. This format is traditionally excluded from systematic review.MethodsA systematic review was undertaken to retrieve and evaluate video publications describing robotic bTME. The study was pre-registered in the PROSPERO database. The Ovid, MEDLINE and Web of Science databases were searched for pertinent publications. The IDEAL2A and Ro-VEGaS (adapted from LAP-VEGaS) checklists were applied.ResultsA total of thirteen studies were deemed eligible for inclusion and analysed. The overall quality of the included videos was good. Substantial variability between videos was observed with respect to anatomical labelling and description of operative steps. Adherence to the IDEAL framework was poor.ConclusionsStandardisation of video publications describing robotic bTME is required to optimise educational value and render them amenable to systematic critical appraisal.