Initial experience with the EndoAssist camera-holding robot in laparoscopic urological surgery

Although the advantages of laparoscopic surgery are well documented, one disadvantage is that, for optimum performance, an experienced camera driver is required who can provide the necessary views for the operating surgeon. In this paper we describe our experience with urological laparoscopic techniques using the novel EndoAssist robotic camera holder and review the current status of alternative devices. A total of 51 urological procedures (25 using the EndoAssist device and 26 using a conventional human camera driver) conducted by three experienced surgeons were studied prospectively, including nephrectomy (simple and radical), pyeloplasty, radical prostatectomy, and radical cystoprostatectomy. The surgeon noted the extent of body comfort and muscle fatigue in each case. Other aspects documented were ease of scope movement, i.e. usability, need to clean the telescope, time of set-up, surgical performance, and whether it was necessary to change the position of the arm during the surgery. All three surgeons involved in the evaluation felt comfortable throughout all procedures, with no loss of autonomy. It was, however, obvious that the large arc generated whilst doing a nephrectomy led to more episodes of lens cleaning, and the arm had to be relocated on some occasions. Clearer benefits were seen while performing pelvic surgery or pyeloplasty, perhaps because the arc of movement was smaller. The EndoAssist is an effective, easy to use device for robotic camera driving which reduces the constraint of having to have an experienced camera driver for optimum visualisation during laparoscopic urological procedures.