US-based medical device company Intuitive announced that robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) enhances access to minimally invasive care, particularly in medical deserts.
The announcement is based on two recent studies published in the Journal of the Society of Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgeons and Annals of Surgery Open.
The study results underline the positive impact of RAS on patient outcomes and the growth of minimally invasive care.
The first study, dubbed ‘Minimally Invasive Surgery Deserts: Is There a Role for Robotic Assisted Surgery?’ identifies regions lacking access to high-quality minimally invasive surgery (MIS) due to factors such as training availability and hospital infrastructure.
The study suggests RAS can facilitate the adoption of minimally invasive care in these areas.
Key findings indicate that medical deserts, where patients lack access to health services, face multiple barriers to MIS.
Patients in these regions often undergo open surgery, missing the benefits of MIS.
Surgeon training and characteristics significantly influence MIS access, with RAS offering a shorter learning curve and potential for remote support.
Intuitive chief medical officer Myriam Curet said: “Minimally invasive surgery offers profound benefits for patients, from shorter recovery times to reduced postoperative complications, yet too many patients lack access due to barriers like surgeon training or hospital location.
“This paper underscores the need for innovative solutions to give hospitals and surgeons more options to improve patient care and outcomes.”
A second study, ‘Rates of Minimally Invasive Surgery after Introduction of Robotic-Assisted Surgery for Common General Surgery Operations,’ examines the influence of RAS on MIS rates in US hospitals.
The study analysed data from 408 hospitals between 2016 and 2022, focusing on 153 hospitals that adopted RAS for surgeries like cholecystectomy and hernia repair.
Study findings show that hospitals implementing RAS experienced an increase in MIS rates from 60.5% to 65.8%, compared to a smaller rise in non-RAS hospitals.
The adoption of RAS expanded access to MIS across various demographics, including older patients and those with Medicare or commercial insurance.
The two studies suggest that RAS contributes to overall MIS growth by overcoming barriers associated with traditional laparoscopy, such as ergonomic challenges and 2D visualisation.
The research supports the view that RAS enhances MIS access across populations, rather than merely shifting procedures from laparoscopy.
Mayo Clinic Arizona Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery hepatobiliary and pancreas surgeon and surgical oncologist Zhi Ven Fong said: “These findings suggest that the introduction of robotic-assisted surgery is helping to expand patient access to minimally invasive techniques.
“By removing some of the technical challenges of traditional laparoscopy, RAS has the potential to make minimally invasive surgery a more viable option for a broader range of patients.”
