Bibliometric mapping of robot-assisted endoscopic submucosal dissection: research trends, collaboration networks, and...

Robot-assisted endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) represents a small but growing interdisciplinary field integrating gastrointestinal endoscopy and robotics. This study characterized publication patterns, collaboration networks, citation structures, research hotspots, and thematic evolution within a predefined bibliometric corpus. English-language Articles and Reviews published from January 1, 2000, to June 1, 2026, were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and screened according to predefined criteria. Flexible intraluminal robotic systems used for colorectal ESD were additionally verified. After standardized data cleaning and harmonization, bibliometric analyses and scientific knowledge mapping were performed using Bibliometrix/Biblioshiny, VOSviewer, and SCImago Graphica. Seventy-nine publications published between 2010 and 2026 were included, covering 50 journals, 344 authors, 93 institutions, and 15 countries or regions. Publication output increased after 2019. China showed the highest research participation and collaboration-network connectivity, whereas Singapore had the highest average citations per publication. Co-authorship analysis identified several closely connected author and institutional clusters, interpreted as network connectivity rather than evidence of sustained collaboration. Author keyword analysis, based on 62 publications with Author Keywords, showed temporal shifts toward traction, flexible endoscopy, continuum robots, flexible instruments, and motion and force control. Overall, these findings describe the bibliometric landscape of the WoSCC-derived literature. Further technical and clinical studies are needed to clarify the safety, effectiveness, and translational value of different robotic approaches.