A pilot study on the impact of da Vinci 5's force feedback on clinical outcomes: Does it lead to less tissue trauma in colorectal surgery?

BACKGROUND

The Da Vinci 5 (DV5) platform's force feedback (FFB) may enhance tactile cues for surgeons. We compare DV5 FFB levels and surgical outcomes in colorectal surgery, focusing on complex versus non-complex cases.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of colectomies performed with the DV5 between April and July 2024 was conducted. Primary outcomes included time to bowel function and length of stay (LOS). Secondary outcomes included case complexity, complications, operative time, console time, and readmission rates.

RESULTS

Among 68 surgeries, the mean time to bowel function was 0.8 days, with no significant differences by force feedback (p ​= ​0.12). LOS averaged 1.4 days across feedback levels (p ​= ​0.12). Lower force was applied to tissue as FFB setting was higher. Force on tissue was higher in complex cases (2.40 vs. 1.83 ​N, p ​= ​0.007). A trend toward lower force was observed with high feedback settings (1.54 vs. 1.85 ​N, p ​= ​0.0646). Operative and console times were significantly longer in complex cases (p ​= ​0.0002 and p ​= ​0.0003, respectively). Complications and readmission rates were similar across complexity levels.

CONCLUSION

Preliminary data suggest that FFB does decrease the total amount of force applied without significantly affecting primary outcomes like bowel function and LOS. As expected, operative and console times increase with case complexity. Enhanced FFB may reduce time in non-complex cases and decrease force applied to tissue but has a more pronounced impact in complex surgeries. Further research is needed to clarify its role in clinical outcomes.