Robotic colorectal surgery. Current status and future developments

Robotic assistance has the potential to compensate for the limitations inherent in standard laparoscopic surgery. The daVinciA (R) surgical system remains the only currently available commercial robotic system. It has found popularity in rectal cancer surgery where its application has consistently been shown to reduce the need to convert to open surgery. With this exception, the technological advances of the robotic system have not so far translated into any reproducible patient benefit. The first part of this manuscript presents an overview of the current daVinciA (R) platform, its applications, the evidence base and future developments in colorectal surgery. The second part of the manuscript looks at other robot systems in development and the different innovations and strategies taken to advance minimally invasive surgery. The English full-text version of this article is available at SpringerLink (under supplemental).