Robotic Treatment of Gallbladder Diseases

Gallbladder disorders, in particular gallstone disease, are the most common abdominal conditions for which patients are admitted to hospitals in Western countries. The cure for most patients is cholecystectomy which is now approached with minimally invasive techniques. Robotic cholecystectomy has been increasingly used over time due to the numerous advantages offered by the robotic platform. Although multiple evidence demonstrated that robotic cholecystectomy is overall comparable to laparoscopic cholecystectomy, in high-risk patients the robotic approach seems to reduce the conversion rate and the incidence of bile duct injuries. In this chapter, indications for surgery and the detailed technique of robotic cholecystectomy are reviewed.