A study by the University Medical Center Magdeburg shows that robot-assisted liver surgery puts less strain on the immune system than conventional open procedures. The results, published in the journal Surgical Endoscopy, prove that robotic procedures are not only more precise, but also gentler on the body.

The study by the University Clinic for General, Visceral, Vascular and Transplant Surgery analyzed patients with liver tumors or liver metastases from colorectal cancer. Blood and tissue samples showed that immune cells that are important for healing are activated more effectively in patients who have undergone robotic surgery. This could improve the combination with immunotherapies, as the immune system is less weakened.

The clinic uses two Da Vinci surgical systems, including the state-of-the-art Da Vinci 5, one of only three in Germany. Robot-assisted procedures enable minimally invasive procedures with the smallest incisions, reduce blood loss, risk of infection and shorten recovery time. The study provides immunological data for the first time that substantiate these benefits.

The results are a first step. Further studies will investigate long-term effects on healing and relapse rates, as well as similar effects in other tumor surgeries. The research was funded by a doctoral scholarship from the Medical Faculty of Magdeburg. First author Julia Nagelschmitz received a young talent award for the project at the German Surgeons’ Congress in Munich.

Original Paper:

Robotic liver surgery: enhancing immune competence and minimizing postsurgical inflammation, 2025 Sep 26, in: Surgical Endoscopy; DOI: 10.1007/s00464-025-12195-1

Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR

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