New Research Explores Access to Minimally Invasive Care and the Impact of Robotic-Assisted Surgery

Core Insights - The studies published by Intuitive demonstrate that robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) enhances access to minimally invasive care, particularly in underserved areas, leading to improved patient outcomes [1][2][3] Group 1: Study Findings - The first study identifies regions lacking access to high-quality minimally invasive surgery (MIS) due to factors like training availability and hospital infrastructure [3][4] - The second study evaluates the impact of RAS on MIS rates across 408 U.S. hospitals from 2016 to 2022, focusing on 153 hospitals that adopted RAS for common surgeries [5][6] - Hospitals that implemented RAS saw an increase in MIS rates from 60.5% to 65.8%, compared to a smaller increase from 56.1% to 57.0% in non-RAS hospitals [7] Group 2: Barriers and Solutions - Surgeon characteristics accounted for nearly two-thirds of the variation in MIS use, while patient sociodemographic factors contributed nearly 30% [6][8] - RAS offers a shorter learning curve for surgeons, potentially improving MIS adoption and access [6][8] - Telementoring and remote surgical support can extend the reach of experienced surgeons into underserved areas [6] Group 3: Broader Impact - The introduction of RAS has contributed to overall growth in MIS, rather than merely shifting procedures from traditional laparoscopy [8][9] - More than 16 million patients have benefited from minimally invasive care using Intuitive technologies, leading to shorter recovery times and reduced postoperative complications [9]