Remote robotic surgery: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Medical Technology
• Surgical Innovation
• Telemedicine

Background:

• Remote robotic surgery integrates robotics and telecommunications for remote surgical procedures.
• It aims to overcome geographical barriers and improve access to specialized surgical care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical effectiveness, safety, technical feasibility, and challenges of remote robotic surgery.
• Focus areas include communication technology, ethics, and cost across various surgical specialties.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted using major databases (PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, etc.) from 2001 to 2025.
• Quality assessment of retrieved literature was performed using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tools.

Main Results:

• 26 articles (13 English, 13 Chinese) were included, covering general surgery, gynecology, orthopedics, urology, and thyroid surgery.
• Remote robotic surgery demonstrated good safety and high success rates with controllable latency, though operation times were slightly longer.
• Key challenges include network stability, high equipment costs, data privacy, ethical concerns, and potential publication bias due to limited reporting of adverse events.

Conclusions:

• Remote robotic surgery holds significant potential for overcoming healthcare access limitations, particularly in underserved regions.
• Current evidence quality is low, necessitating standardized safety protocols, international registration, and collaborative networks.
• Technological advancements are expected to increase its role in global healthcare delivery.