Robotic Surgery: Technological Developments and the Position in Urological Surgery

Abstract

In this study, we discuss the place of robotic surgery in urology in the light of the current technological developments. Within the past 15 years, unprecedented advances have been experienced in robotic surgery. Urology has been played an active role in these developments. Owing to innovations of robotic surgery, some technical limitations of conventional laparoscopy have been overcome. Especially, some technical limitations of conventional laparoscopic surgery requiring reconstruction and operational challenges have significantly been solved. Despite these superior advantages, high cost of the method is the most important disadvantage. In the literature, the cost-effectiveness is the main point of discussions about robotic surgery. In the future, if the cost problem is resolved, robotic surgery will be the gold standard of treatment for the operations, such as partial nephrectomy, pyeloplasty, radical prostatectomy and radical cystectomy, which require more complex reconstruction.