# Robotic surgery applications for gastrointestinal cancer > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/robotic-surgery-applications-for-gastrointestinal-cancer > Updated: 2026-09-18T00:10:29.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2. Medical research and clinical applications of robotic surgery for gastrointestinal cancers in South Korea have highlighted improved patient outcomes. A study by Samsung Medical Center involving over 13,000 patients found that robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery for esophageal cancer resulted in a 64% five-year survival rate, compared to 55% for traditional open surgery. The research indicated that while long-term survival was comparable to conventional thoracoscopic surgery, robotic methods offered superior short-term recovery, including shorter hospital stays and lower mortality rates within 90 days. In clinical practice, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital demonstrated the utility of these technologies by performing a successful robotic total gastrectomy on a 97-year-old patient with stage 1 gastric cancer. Surgeons utilized robotic precision to manage deep, narrow surgical areas and minimize bleeding, allowing the elderly patient to be discharged following the procedure. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-18: Seoul St. Mary's Hospital performs robotic surgery on 97-year-old gastric cancer patient Seoul St. Mary's Hospital successfully used robotic surgery to perform a total gastrectomy on a 97-year-old gastric cancer patient, emphasizing holistic health assessments over age alone. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/seoul-st-marys-hospital-performs-robotic-surgery-on-97-year-old-gastric-cancer-patient ### 2026-08-26: Samsung Medical Center study: Robotic surgery improves esophageal cancer survival A Samsung Medical Center study reveals that robotic surgery for esophageal cancer improves 5-year survival rates to 64% and reduces mortality risk by 20% compared to open surgery. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/samsung-medical-center-study-robotic-surgery-improves-esophageal-cancer-survival --- Cite as: Robotic surgery applications for gastrointestinal cancer. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/robotic-surgery-applications-for-gastrointestinal-cancer