Literature review of pediatric robotic surgery in Spain

Robotic surgery has revolutionized surgical practice globally since the first Da Vinci device was launched in 2000. Adoption in Spain has been more moderate than in other countries, especially in the field of pediatric surgery, which represents less than 0.5% of all robotic procedures. This paper features a review of the scientific literature on the pediatric robot-assisted surgeries published in Spain. The objective was to provide a full overview of the cases documented in Spain and to highlight opportunity areas for the growth of this technology.

A comprehensive search of scientific papers on PubMed, Scielo, and Google Scholar databases was carried out. Search terms included "robotic surgery," "pediatric," "Spain," "robot-assisted surgery," and "pediatric surgery." Specialists in the field and the Da Vinci robot distributor in Spain were also contacted to collect additional scientific evidence.

Of the 87 papers identified, 6 met inclusion criteria. The studies reviewed document the experience with pediatric robotic surgery in three Spanish hospitals -Vall d'Hebrón Hospital, San Carlos Clinical Hospital, and Reina Sofía Hospital. Clinical results were mostly positive, with low complication rates and good postoperative recoveries. However, some challenges, such as long operating times, a certain difficulty in robotic arm placement, and the high cost of this device, were also pointed out.

Pediatric robotic surgery in Spain is in an early developmental stage, with a limited number of publications, and experience that is available in very few institutions. Further research is required to reinforce scientific evidence and promote investment in this technology.