Robotic-Assisted Vascular Surgery: Current Landscape, Challenges, and Future Directions

Abstract

Vascular surgery has evolved from durable yet invasive open reconstructions to less traumatic endovascular techniques. While endovascular repair reduces perioperative morbidity, it introduces durability challenges and the need for lifelong surveillance. Laparoscopic surgery bridged some gaps but was hindered by steep learning curves and technical limitations. Robotic-assisted surgery represents a "third revolution", combining the durability of open repair with the recovery and ergonomic benefits of minimally invasive approaches through enhanced 3D visualization, wristed instrumentation, and tremor filtration. This review synthesizes current evidence on robotic applications in vascular surgery, including aortic, visceral, venous, and endovascular interventions. Feasibility of robotic vascular surgery has been demonstrated in over 1500 patients across aortic, visceral, venous, and decompression procedures. Reported outcomes include pooled conversion rates of ~5%, 30-day mortality of 1-3%, and long-term patency rates exceeding 90% in aortoiliac occlusive disease. Similarly favorable outcomes have been observed in AAA repair, visceral artery aneurysm repair, IVC reconstructions, renal vein transpositions, and minimally invasive decompression procedures such as median arcuate ligament and thoracic outlet syndromes. Endovascular robotics enhances catheter navigation precision and reduces operator radiation exposure by 85-95%, with multiple series demonstrating consistent benefit compared to manual techniques. Despite these advantages, adoption is limited by high costs, lack of dedicated vascular instruments, absent haptic feedback on most platforms, and the need for standardized training. Most available evidence is observational and from high-volume centers, highlighting the need for multicenter randomized trials. Future directions include AI-enabled planning and augmented-reality navigation, which are the most feasible near-term technologies since they rely largely on software integration with existing systems. Other advances such as microsurgical robotics, soft-robotic platforms, and telesurgery remain longer-term developments requiring new hardware and regulatory pathways. Overcoming barriers through collaborative innovation, structured training, and robust evidence generation is essential for robotics to become a new standard in vascular care.