[Present condition and new vista of the future in robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgeries]

The introduction of robotic surgical system is one of the most exciting topic in the field of the surgery. In this symposium, we presented and explained the present condition of robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgeries performed in the department of Urology, Gastroenterology and Gynecology of the Hokkaido University Hospital. By using this surgical system, laparoscopic surgery, which is generally considered to be difficult, can be safely performed by surgeons. Especially in radical prostatectomy against localized prostate cancer, this surgical approach brought the decrease in peri- and postoperative problems including blood loss and postoperative urinary incontinence in comparison with open or laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. We wish that this symposium would help the audience to understand the present condition and new vista of the future in robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgeries.