Urology
One of the specialties where robotic surgery is most established.
Common robotic procedures
- Radical prostatectomy
- Partial and radical nephrectomy
- Radical cystectomy and urinary diversion
- Pyeloplasty and ureteric reconstruction
- Nephroureterectomy
- Kidney transplantation
General and colorectal surgery
Robotic access is used for complex abdominal and pelvic operations and abdominal wall surgery.
Common robotic procedures
- Rectal cancer resection (total mesorectal excision)
- Right and left colectomy
- Inguinal and ventral hernia repair
- Hiatal hernia repair and fundoplication
- Cholecystectomy
- Adrenalectomy
Surgical oncology
Robotic platforms support precise dissection and lymph node clearance in cancer surgery.
Common robotic procedures
- Gastrectomy and oesophagectomy
- Rectal and colonic cancer surgery
- Pancreatic and liver tumour resection
- Retroperitoneal tumour excision
- Lymphadenectomy
Gynaecology
Used for benign gynaecology, pelvic floor surgery and gynaecological cancer.
Common robotic procedures
- Hysterectomy for benign and malignant disease
- Myomectomy
- Excision of deep endometriosis
- Sacrocolpopexy
- Staging and lymph node surgery for gynaecological cancer
Cardiothoracic surgery
Robotic thoracic surgery is now common, and selected cardiac operations are performed robotically.
Common robotic procedures
- Lobectomy and segmentectomy
- Thymectomy and mediastinal tumour excision
- Mitral valve repair
- Internal mammary artery harvest for coronary bypass
Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery
Some of the most technically demanding robotic operations.
Common robotic procedures
- Liver resection
- Pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple)
- Distal pancreatectomy
- Choledochal cyst excision and biliary reconstruction
Upper GI and bariatric surgery
Robotic surgery is used in primary and revisional bariatric operations and upper GI cancer.
Common robotic procedures
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- Gastric bypass
- Revisional bariatric surgery
- Oesophagectomy and gastrectomy
Head and neck surgery
Transoral and remote-access robotic approaches reach areas that are hard to expose conventionally.
Common robotic procedures
- Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for oropharyngeal tumours
- Remote-access thyroidectomy
- Selected skull-base and neck procedures
Paediatric surgery
Small instruments and fine control make robotic surgery useful in selected children.
Common robotic procedures
- Pyeloplasty
- Ureteric reimplantation
- Fundoplication
- Choledochal cyst excision
Technology and AI
New platforms and tools are changing robotic practice across all specialties.
Common robotic procedures
- Multi-port and single-port robotic systems
- Simulation and virtual-reality training
- Fluorescence-guided surgery
- Artificial intelligence and video analysis
- Telesurgery and remote proctoring
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