Robot-assisted surgery in gynaecology

Robotic surgery is the latest development in minimal invasive surgery. It provides superior visualisation and dexterity and therefore allows the surgeon to perform complex tasks that would exceed his/her abilities with conventional laparoscopy and would be associated with an increased morbidity if performed by laparotomy. Current evidence demonstrates the feasibility and safety of this technology in gynaecology. The costs of robotic surgery remain one of the main sources of controversy but are expected to come down with further developments of the technology. If evidence-based long-term outcome evaluations show the superiority of robotic surgery in comparison to conventional laparoscopic and open surgery, this technology will have a major impact on gynaecological surgery.Martin K. Oehle