Minimally Invasive Surgery: A Systematic Review of Laparoscopic and Robotic Techniques Across Common Surgical...

Minimally invasive surgery has transformed surgical practice by reducing operative trauma, postoperative pain, and recovery time compared with open approaches. While conventional laparoscopy remains widely used across specialties, technical limitations such as restricted instrument articulation and limited visualization have driven the adoption of robotic-assisted surgery. This review aimed to synthesise contemporary comparative evidence evaluating robotic versus laparoscopic surgery, with emphasis on perioperative, functional, and oncologic outcomes. A systematic literature search identified comparative studies published between 2015 and 2025 involving adult patients undergoing robotic or laparoscopic procedures. Following screening and eligibility assessment, 11 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. Data extraction focused on operative time, blood loss, conversion rates, complications, recovery parameters, functional outcomes, and oncologic adequacy. Owing to methodological heterogeneity, findings were synthesized descriptively and organized by outcome domain. Robotic surgery demonstrated selective advantages, including reduced conversion to open surgery, lower blood loss in specific procedures, and improved functional recovery in anatomically complex operations. Operative time was frequently longer with robotic techniques, while complication rates, hospital stay, and oncologic outcomes were generally comparable between approaches. The robotic surgery offers targeted benefits in complex, minimally invasive procedures while maintaining oncologic safety comparable to laparoscopy, supporting its role as a complementary surgical modality.