Current status and future perspectives in robotic surgery in Asia

Robotic surgery (RS) is rapidly evolving in Asia. It has been applied to all fields and subspecialities of surgery since it was first developed in urology. In digestive surgery, RS can be utilized for both oncology and benign conditions. Advantages include better ergonomics, stable operative platform, better visualization and surgeon autonomy, hence RS is particularly suitable for complex procedures in a narrow field such as low rectal cancer surgery and esophagectomy. Utilization of RS varies among countries in Asia. Countries like Japan and Korea, RS is widely prevalent. While in most countries, it remains limited to selective specialities and medical centers. Healthcare finance, government support and surgeon experience are important considerations. In this lecture, scientific evidence of RS in digestive surgery will be reviewed and factors related to adoption of RS will be discussed.