{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,6]],"date-time":"2026-07-06T06:15:10Z","timestamp":1783318510769,"version":"3.54.6"},"reference-count":17,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,6]],"date-time":"2026-07-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1783296000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Pediatr."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The role of robotic-assisted cholecystectomy in paediatric patients remains incompletely defined, particularly regarding postoperative recovery and gastrointestinal function. This study aimed to compare perioperative outcomes and early recovery between robotic-assisted and conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy in children.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A single-centre retrospective comparative cohort study was conducted at a tertiary paediatric referral centre. Consecutive patients (\u226418 years) undergoing cholecystectomy for benign gallbladder disease were included and divided into two groups based on surgical approach: pre-robotic (January 2023\u2013December 2024) and robotic (January 2025\u2013December 2025). Demographic, intraoperative, and postoperative outcomes were analysed. Continuous variables were compared using the Mann\u2013Whitney U test and categorical variables using Fisher\u2019s exact test.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      A total of 28 patients were included (13 pre-robotic, 15 robotic). Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups. Median operative time was significantly longer in the robotic group (2:22 h vs. 1:33 h;\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009&amp;lt;\u20090.001), while length of hospital stay was significantly shorter (2 vs. 4 days;\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u20090.003). No conversions to open surgery or surgical site infections were observed. Postoperative complications were rare and comparable between groups (7.7% vs. 0%;\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u20090.46). Analgesic requirements, VAS scores, and PEWS values were similar. Early gastrointestinal recovery was significantly improved in the robotic group. Early oral feeding within 24\u2005h occurred in 100% of robotic cases versus 69.2% in the pre-robotic group (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u20090.041). Passage of flatus within 24\u2005h was observed in 93.3% versus 30.8%, respectively (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u20090.002).\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Robotic-assisted cholecystectomy is a safe and feasible approach in paediatric patients, with perioperative outcomes comparable to conventional laparoscopy. Despite longer operative times, the robotic approach was associated with shorter hospital stay and faster recovery of bowel function. These findings suggest a potential advantage of robotic surgery in promoting early postoperative recovery. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these results and define the role of robotics in paediatric cholecystectomy.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fped.2026.1880433","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,6]],"date-time":"2026-07-06T05:37:01Z","timestamp":1783316221000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Robotic-assisted cholecystectomy in children is associated with faster gastrointestinal recovery: a comparative study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"M.","family":"Di Mitri","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatric Surgery, Meyer Children\u2019s Hospital","place":["Florence, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"M. M.","family":"Cantagalli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatric Surgery, Meyer Children\u2019s Hospital","place":["Florence, Italy"]},{"name":"School of Pediatric Surgery, University of Florence","place":["Florence, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"A.","family":"Morabito","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatric Surgery, Meyer Children\u2019s Hospital","place":["Florence, Italy"]},{"name":"Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence","place":["Florence, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"A.","family":"Brucculeri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatric Surgery, Meyer Children\u2019s Hospital","place":["Florence, Italy"]},{"name":"School of Pediatric Surgery, University of Florence","place":["Florence, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"J.","family":"Belli1","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatric Surgery, Meyer Children\u2019s Hospital","place":["Florence, Italy"]},{"name":"School of Pediatric Surgery, University of Florence","place":["Florence, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"S.","family":"Muscolino","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatric Surgery, Meyer Children\u2019s Hospital","place":["Florence, Italy"]},{"name":"School of Pediatric Surgery, University of Florence","place":["Florence, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"R.","family":"Lo Piccolo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatric Surgery, Meyer Children\u2019s Hospital","place":["Florence, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"M.","family":"Di Maurizio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Radiology Unit, Meyer Children\u2019s Hospital IRCCS","place":["Florence, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"E.","family":"Ciardini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatric Surgery, Meyer Children\u2019s Hospital","place":["Florence, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"R.","family":"Coletta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatric Surgery, Meyer Children\u2019s Hospital","place":["Florence, Italy"]},{"name":"Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence","place":["Florence, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1544","DOI":"10.3390\/children10091544","article-title":"Gallbladder stones in pediatric age: an emerging problem: the risk of difficult cholecystectomy and the importance of a preoperative evaluation","volume":"10","author":"Todesco","year":"2023","journal-title":"Children"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e103147","DOI":"10.7759\/cureus.103147","article-title":"Adolescent cholelithiasis: evolving challenges and clinical implications","volume":"18","author":"Wang","year":"2026","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"536","DOI":"10.1111\/hpb.12406","article-title":"Minimally invasive versus the conventional open surgical approach of a radical cholecystectomy for gallbladder cancer: a retrospective comparative study","volume":"17","author":"Agarwal","year":"2015","journal-title":"HPB (Oxford)"},{"key":"B4","article-title":"Laparoscopic cholecystectomy","volume-title":"StatPearls","author":"Asad","year":"2026"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"203","DOI":"10.3389\/fped.2020.00203","article-title":"Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholecystic disease in children: defining surgical timing","volume":"8","author":"Pelizzo","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front Pediatr"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e52148","DOI":"10.7759\/cureus.52148","article-title":"Robotic revolution in surgery: diverse applications across specialties and future prospects review article","volume":"16","author":"Fairag","year":"2024","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"263","DOI":"10.1007\/s11701-007-0050-x","article-title":"Robotic surgery versus laparoscopy; 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