Challenges and opportunities of implementing robotic
surgery and gene mapping technology within the next
5 years
The field of robotic surgery has been growing rapidly over the last two decades. Robotic
assisted surgery has a multitude of benefits for patients. The company who makes the
extremely popular da Vinci system, Intuitive was founded in 1995 and has become a leader
in robotic surgical equipment. The first robotic surgery using da Vinci in 2000 (Intuitive
Surgical, 2021). The company continued to expand over the last 20 years. Between 2010
and 2014 the company entered into a period of rapid expansion. “Expanding indications
and launches, 2010–2014 is marked by a rapid succession of innovation from instruments
and accessories to systems and services, plus growing acceptance of robotic-assisted
surgery”/(Intuitive Surgical, 2021).
Cleveland Clinic lists the benefits of robotic surgery include a lower risk of infection,
shorter hospitalization, reduced blood loss, less pain, and smaller scars (Cleveland Clinic,
2021). No surgery is without risks and robotic surgery includes the risk of having to
convert to an open surgery, risk of nerve damage, and risk of equipment malfunction
(Cleveland Clinic, 2021). Insurance coverage for robotic surgery varies with your
insurance plan.
While many hospitals and other countries have adopted robotic surgery there are still
barriers to implementation. Robotic surgery requires a large initial capital investment, but
also ongoing maintenance and training is required. Training and credentialing can be
expensive this may leave smaller community hospitals unable to purchase this equipment.
“The FDA recommends that physicians, hospitals, and facilities that use RAS (robotically
assisted surgery) devices should ensure that proper training is completed and that surgeons
