From Illusion to Reality: A Brief History of Robotic Surgery

TLDR

Robotic surgery, tracing its roots from Greek mythology and early inventors to modern advances, is now widely adopted worldwide with over 3,000 da Vinci platforms and 200,000 procedures annually, shaping surgical practice and training while generally remaining safe. The authors conducted a historical review of robotic surgery to evaluate its evolution, impact on society, and the milestones that led to its current popularity. The review found that more than 3,000 da Vinci platforms are installed worldwide, with over 200,000 robotic procedures performed each year, and that robotic technology is generally safe and feasible despite some adverse events.

Abstract

Robotic surgery is currently employed for many surgical procedures, yielding interesting results.We performed an historical review of robots and robotic surgery evaluating some critical phases of its evolution, analyzing its impact on our life and the steps completed that gave the robotics its current popularity.The origins of robotics can be traced back to Greek mythology. Different aspects of robotics have been explored by some of the greatest inventors like Leonardo da Vinci, Pierre Jaquet-Droz, and Wolfgang Von-Kempelen. Advances in many fields of science made possible the development of advanced surgical robots. Over 3000 da Vinci robotic platforms are installed worldwide, and more than 200 000 robotic procedures are performed every year.Despite some potential adverse events, robotic technology seems safe and feasible. It is strictly linked to our life, leading surgeons to a new concept of surgery and training.