Comparative Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Surgical Approaches on Patient Recovery: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Surgical Innovation
• Comparative Effectiveness Research
• Patient Outcomes

Background:

• Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) reduces trauma and speeds recovery compared to open procedures.
• Inconsistencies persist in MIS recovery outcomes and comparative effectiveness across surgical specialties.
• Open surgery remains essential for complex cases where MIS is unsuitable or unsafe.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and compare patient recovery after minimally invasive surgery (MIS) versus open surgical approaches.
• To synthesize evidence on key recovery outcomes, including hospital stay, pain, complications, and functional recovery.
• To evaluate the comparative effectiveness of different MIS techniques, including robotic-assisted surgery.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of major databases (2015-May 2026).
• Inclusion of randomized and observational comparative studies.
• Narrative synthesis of extracted data due to heterogeneity in study designs and outcomes.

Main Results:

• Minimally invasive surgery groups demonstrated shorter hospital stays, reduced postoperative pain, and faster functional recovery.
• Operative times and costs varied, with complication profiles generally favoring MIS but being procedure-specific.
• Robotic-assisted MIS did not consistently show superior recovery outcomes compared to conventional laparoscopic techniques.

Conclusions:

• Minimally invasive surgery enhances short-term recovery, patient outcomes, and healthcare efficiency for appropriate procedures and patients.
• Conventional open surgery retains a critical role in complex, demanding, or anatomically challenging procedures.
• Further research is needed on long-term outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and technological integration to guide clinical decisions.