Disparities in robot utilization in colorectal surgery: the widening gap
By
Andrew E. Donaldson
Sarah B. Jochum
Jimmie Knight
Joshua M. Underhill
Chassidy Grimes
Laura A. DeCesare
Brendan O’Donnell
Ethan M. Ritz
Henry R. Govekar
Anuradha R. Bhama
Erin King-Mullins
Dana M. Hayden
July 8, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Inequities in the Adoption of Robotic Techniques in Colorectal Surgery: An Expanding Divide
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Colorectal Surgery Key Mechanisms Robot-assisted surgery (RAS) offers improved dexterity, tremor elimination, and three-dimensional optics. Target Population Patients undergoing colectomy and/or proctectomy aged 18 years and older. Care Setting National surgical quality improvement program database analysis.
Key Highlights
Robotic surgery adoption in colorectal surgery has increased since the early 2000s. Short-term outcomes of RAS are largely equivalent to laparoscopy. Racial disparities exist in access to robotic surgery, with Black patients less frequently offered RAS. Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Utilize demographic and clinical factors to identify predictors for surgical approach. Management
Consider robotic surgery for eligible patients, while being aware of access disparities. Monitoring & Follow-up
Monitor postoperative complications and mortality rates across different surgical approaches. Risks
Be aware of potential inequities in access to robotic surgery based on race and socioeconomic status. Patient & Prescribing Data
125,776 patients who underwent colectomy and/or proctectomy from 2013-2020.
Majority of patients were White (72.1%), with Black patients representing 8.4% of the population.
Clinical Best Practices
Ensure equitable access to robotic surgery for all racial and socioeconomic groups. Utilize national databases to track trends in surgical approach and outcomes. Related Resources & Content
