Robotic surgery in children: the good, the bad, and the possibilities
Robotic assistance for surgeries is a blossoming technique for surgical procedures in which robots, equipped with state-of-the-art cameras and tools, are used to conduct a significant part of a surgery. They are not wholly independent, as a trained surgeon will operate one whilst other surgeons support the procedure, and a specialist team stays close by for technical assistance. Robots are becoming an increasingly common figure in operating theatres, especially for adult surgeries, but their use in paediatric surgery is still limited and rare – for all the benefits of robotic surgery, there are also some caveats that are important to consider when operating on children. An experienced paediatric urologist and surgeon goes through the pros and cons, and the possibilities, of robotic surgery for children in this article.
