Robotic surgery in healthcare: current challenges, technological advances, and global implementation prospects

Area of Science:

• Surgical Technology
• Medical Robotics
• Healthcare Innovation

Background:

• Robotic surgery provides enhanced precision, minimal invasiveness, and improved patient outcomes.
• Significant geographic disparities exist in robotic surgery research and implementation.
• High costs, training needs, and ethical concerns hinder widespread adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the multifaceted aspects of robotic surgery.
• To examine challenges, advances, and future prospects for robotic surgery integration.
• To provide a globally minded analysis of implementation barriers.

Main Methods:

• Narrative review of 48 studies.
• Analysis of geographic disparities in research and implementation.
• Examination of financial, training, ethical, and medico-legal obstacles.

Main Results:

• 68.8% of studies originated from high-income countries, indicating geographic disparities.
• High costs, lack of standardized training, and ethical/medico-legal issues are major obstacles.
• Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), telemedicine, and remote surgery show promise for enhancing systems and access.

Conclusions:

• Addressing cost, training, and accessibility barriers is crucial for realizing robotic surgery's potential.
• Development of affordable, portable systems and data-driven analytics are key future directions.
• A multi-stakeholder approach is vital for overcoming barriers and optimizing patient care through robotic surgery.