Global trends and hotspots in robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery for gastrointestinal diseases: a bibliometric and...

This study utilizes bibliometric and visualization techniques to systematically analyze global development trends in robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery for gastrointestinal diseases. Using the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus as the data source, 4,214 relevant articles published between 1999 and 2025 were extracted. Tools such as VOSviewer, CiteSpace, Scimago Graphica, and Origin were employed to analyze academic output, collaboration networks, influence distribution, and research hotspots. The results show significant growth in academic productivity and citation impact in this field, with acceleration after 2020. The United States leads globally in research output and influence, while countries such as China, Japan, Italy, and South Korea also exhibit strong capabilities. At the institutional and author levels, Yonsei University and the Mayo Clinic are high-output institutions, with core scholars such as Hyung Woo Jin and Pigazzi Alessio driving the field. In journal influence, Surgical Endoscopy and Other Interventional Techniques leads in publication quantity, while Annals of Surgery tops quality evaluations with the highest H-index and impact factor. Keyword analysis reveals a shift in research hotspots from early "experience" accumulation to higher level evidence-based studies, with recent focuses on "risk" management and "surgical outcomes" reflecting a discipline-wide transition from technology-centered to patient-centered, full-cycle outcome assessment. This study comprehensively reveals the current status and trends in global robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery research for gastrointestinal diseases, providing directional guidance and research insights for its development and clinical evaluation.