Bariatric robotic surgery

Bariatric and metabolic surgery continue to be the most effective long-term treatment for the growing chronic disease of obesity. Volumes of both primary and revisional bariatric surgery continue to increase. The majority of bariatric surgical procedures are performed via minimally invasive techniques. Although this has largely been with traditional laparoscopic methods, robotic assisted laparoscopic surgery continues to rise in prevalence, given the perceived advantages, including improved dexterity, dissection, visualization, and ergonomics for the surgeon. As a result, more and more surgeons are transitioning to the robotic platform. The purpose of this chapter is to summarize setup (including port placement and instrumentation), key operative steps, and common pitfalls of robotic assisted laparoscopic bariatric surgical procedures, including a focus on sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, single anastomosis duodenal ileal bypass, and revisional procedures.