Embracing robotic surgery in low- and middle-income countries: Potential benefits, challenges, and scope in the future

Abstract

Robotic surgery has applications in many medical specialties, including urology, general surgery, and surgical oncology. In the context of a widespread resource and personnel shortage in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), the use of robotics in surgery may help to reduce physician burnout, surgical site infections, and hospital stays. However, a lack of haptic feedback and potential socioeconomic factors such as high implementation costs and a lack of trained personnel may limit its accessibility and application. Specific improvements focused on improved financial and technical support to LMICs can help improve access and have the potential to transform the surgical experience for both surgeons and patients in LMICs. This review focuses on the evolution of robotic surgery, with an emphasis on challenges and recommendations to facilitate wider implementation and improved patient outcomes.

Fig. 1

The applications of robotic surgery with AI and ergonomics in a variety of surgical sub-specialties can transform surgical care in LMICs (green), but there are major barriers that hinder its widespread implementation (red); AI: Artificial Intelligence, LMICs: Low- and middle-income countries, SSi: Surgical Site Infections (Created with biorender.com). (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the Web version of this article.)