Introduction : The objective of this study was to compare the early outcomes of robotic radical cholecystectomy (RRC) with open radical cholecystectomy (ORC) for gall bladder cancer (GBC).

Methods : Patients who underwent RRC for suspected or incidental GBC between July 2015 to August 2018 were analysed. Patients who underwent ORC during the same period and fulfilled the study criteria formed the control group.

Results : During the study period, 27 patients who underwent RRC formed the study group (Group A) and 70 matched patients who underwent ORC formed the control group (Group B). Median surgical time was higher in Group A (295 versus 200 mins, P <0.001). However, median blood loss (ml) (200 versus 600ml, P <0.001), postoperative hospital-stay (4 versus 5 days, P= 0.046) and postoperative morbidity (1 versus 15 patients, P= 0.035) were lower in Group A. Median lymph node yield was 10 (range=2-21) for Group A and 9 (range=2-25) for Group B, and was comparable (P= 0.408). During a median follow up of 9 (1-46) months, 2 patients in Group A (no port site recurrence) and 12 patients in Group B developed recurrence.

Conclusions : RRC is safe and feasible and the short-term results are comparable to ORC.