A Global Perspective on the Adoption of Different Robotic Platforms in Uro-Oncological Surgery

Abstract

Robotic platforms have played a crucial role in minimally invasive surgery, especially for uro-oncological procedures. da Vinci robotic platforms have been the most widely adopted for more than two decades and remain the benchmark worldwide. However, access to robotic platforms varies widely across the globe, mainly because of high costs. More recent platforms, such as the Hugo RAS, KangDuo, and others, are lower-cost alternatives. We provide an overview of the distribution of robotic platforms for uro-oncological surgery across countries on the basis of published evidence. da Vinci robotic platforms remain the most widely adopted, with studies reported from 42 countries, followed by the Hugo RAS in 12 countries. Despite advances, many countries lack data, especially in Africa, South America, and parts of Asia, emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary collaboration, training, and policy initiatives. Recently approved novel platforms may contribute to expansion of access to robotic surgery in underserved regions. PATIENT SUMMARY: We reviewed the use of robotic systems for surgery for urological cancers around the globe. We found that the da Vinci system is the most widely used worldwide, but there is a gap in access to these robots in Africa, South America, and parts of Asia. New platforms that are less expensive could lead to wider use of robotic surgery in the future.

Keywords: Oncology; Robot-assisted surgery; Robotic platforms; Urology.