From technical validation to functional preservation in robot-assisted simple prostatectomy: a bibliometric and...

Robot-assisted simple prostatectomy (RASP) is a minimally invasive option for treating large-volume benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Despite growing research output, the overall structure and evolution of this field have not been fully characterized. This study retrieved 101 relevant articles published between 2008 and 2025 from the Web of Science Core Collection and examined their publication trends, citation characteristics, international collaborations, and keyword evolution using bibliometric and visualization methods. The results showed a generally upward trend in publication counts, with a pronounced acceleration after 2020. Early studies mainly addressed the technical feasibility, safety, and procedural optimization of RASP. With accumulating clinical experience, research interest shifted toward perioperative outcomes, comparisons between surgical approaches, learning curves, and cost-effectiveness. More recently, ejaculatory function preservation, near-infrared fluorescence guidance, single-port robotic platforms, and enhanced recovery after surgery have emerged as new hotspots. Highly cited publications were predominantly comparative studies of perioperative and functional outcomes, along with several systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Overall, the field has evolved from initial technical validation toward a research model emphasizing clinical benefits and functional preservation. However, evidence on long-term follow-up, patient-reported outcomes, and high-quality multicenter studies remains limited. This bibliometric review delineates the research trajectory and hotspots in RASP and offers a reference for future study planning, resource allocation, and evidence-based practice.