What is robotic surgery?

Robotic surgery is the use of a machine docked to laparoscopic ports inserted into a patient for surgery.  The surgery is still performed by a human surgeon; however, the surgeon sits at a console a few feet away from the patient.  At the console, the surgeon controls up to 4 laparoscopic instruments.  Robotic surgery provides the minimally invasive benefits of laparoscopy with decreased pain and improved recovery while also improving surgeon dexterity and vision over that of conventional laparoscopy.  Common urologic robotic procedures are radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, simple prostatectomy for enlarged prostates, partial and radical nephrectomy for renal masses, and pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction obstruction.

There is currently only one company, Intuitive, with an approved device for robotic surgery.  This device is called Da Vinci and has several generations.  The two most recent and commonly used generations are the Si and Xi.