[Take the rational view on the application of robotic surgery in gastrointestinal field in China]

Since its introduction in China, the rapid development of robotic surgical system has brought a new trend in gastrointestinal surgery. Although clinical trials have proven its safety and effectiveness compared with traditional laparoscopic surgery, robotic gastrointestinal surgery has no obvious advantages in either short-term efficacy or long-term survival after surgery. Significantly increased costs have not brought corresponding clinical benefits, and that has limited robotic surgery to become the mainstream option for gastrointestinal surgery. In this paper, the clinical findings of robotic gastrointestinal surgery were reviewed, and the application of robotic surgical system in gastrointestinal surgery should be viewed rationally. The majority of gastrointestinal surgeons should not take the so-called "advanced equipment" as a monopolized asset, but choose surgery methods that the patients can benefit from, doctors are satisfied with, and can reflect the best socioeconomic benefits for the patients. With the development of a new generation of robotic surgical system and the support of more high-quality evidence-based medicine, it is believed that robotic gastrointestinal surgery will go towards a better future along a rational and objective track.