Robot-assisted surgery in children: current status

The horizon of robotic paediatric surgery has grown in leaps and bounds with advances in technology. The aim of this study was to analyse the extent of robotic involvement in paediatric surgical practice. A systematic database search was performed. Data about children who had undergone robot-assisted procedures were reviewed retrospectively from all published reports up to October 2007. Success rates were defined in term of completion of the procedures, their complications, and the time taken. These results were further studied in comparison with the procedures performed by open and laparoscopic methods. A total of 31 studies were identified describing 566 patients. Of these, four studies were case control, comparing with either laparoscopic or open procedures, one study was a prospective trial, and the rest of the studies were either case reports or series. The most common robotic system used was the da Vinci (23 studies) followed by the Zeus (four studies). The mean age of the children was 8.3 years. The commonest operation was pyeloplasty (141 cases), followed by fundoplication (122 cases) and patent ductus arteriosus ligation (50 cases). The mean operation time for robot-assisted pyeloplasty was 221 min (open pyeloplasty 214 min). The mean operation times for fundoplication were robotic, 170 min, laparoscopic, 158 min, and open, 121 min. The mean operation times for patent ductus arteriosus ligation were 166 min (robotic) and 83 min (open). Overall conversion rate for all paediatric robotic procedures was 4.7% and complications ranged from 0 to 15%. For robotic fundoplications the conversion and complication rates were 0.8 and 3.3%, respectively. For robotic pyeloplasties the conversion and complication rates were 2.1 and 3.5%, respectively. Many other major operations were performed successfully. All studies recommended robotic procedure as safe and feasible. Currently, the most common robotic operations in practice are pyeloplasties and fundoplications. Most of the authors concluded that, despite taking more time, robotic surgery enables more refined hand-eye coordination, superior suturing skills, better dexterity, and precise dissection with minimal conversion and complication rates. The widespread acceptance of this technology largely depends on solving the issues: learning curve; suitable machine size for neonates and infants; ensuring efficacy and safety in all operations; and, most importantly, making this procedure cost effective, so as to cater for the needs of most, if not all, children.