Visualizing the development of robot-assisted endoscopic submucosal dissection: a comprehensive bibliometric study

Area of Science:

• Medical Robotics
• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Technology

Background:

• Robot-assisted endoscopic submucosal dissection (RA-ESD) represents an emerging frontier in minimally invasive gastrointestinal procedures.
• Understanding the global research landscape is crucial for identifying trends, collaborations, and future directions in RA-ESD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically map the global research landscape of RA-ESD.
• To identify publication trends, collaboration networks, intellectual structure, and emerging research hotspots in RA-ESD.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of 75 eligible English-language articles and reviews from the Web of Science Core Collection (2005-2025).
• Utilized CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and R software for trend analysis, network visualization, and keyword co-occurrence mapping.
• Knowledge mapping techniques, including dual-map overlay, were employed to identify thematic evolution and interdisciplinary connections.

Main Results:

• RA-ESD publications show a sustained upward trend, particularly after 2012, with peak activity in 2024-2025.
• East Asian countries (China, Japan, Singapore) and the United States are primary contributors, with Japan and Singapore showing higher citation impact.
• Research frontiers are evolving from early techniques to flexible platforms, traction-assisted strategies, and clinical efficacy validation, integrating clinical and engineering disciplines.

Conclusions:

• RA-ESD research is rapidly advancing, transitioning from technical exploration to evidence-based clinical evaluation.
• Despite technological progress, international collaboration in RA-ESD remains limited and fragmented.
• Future efforts should focus on multicenter cooperation and robust clinical evidence to promote standardized and intelligent endoscopic surgery.