Robotic telesurgery: technological foundations, clinical applications and perspective

Abstract

Introduction: Robotic bariatric surgery has become established as a safe and effective approach for the treatment of severe obesity. In parallel, recent advances in connectivity and digital infrastructure have rekindled interest in telesurgery as a strategy to expand access to specialized surgery, especially in scenarios of unequal distribution of centers of excellence. Objective: To discuss robotic bariatric surgery as a strategic platform for the development of telesurgery, with emphasis on its implications for care, medical education, and academic research. Method: Review of the fundamentals of robotic bariatric surgery, the conceptual evolution of telesurgery, and the potential of bariatric surgery as a model applicable to remote interventions, discussing the impacts on the training and supervision of surgical teams, the main technical challenges, and the ethical, legal, and regulatory issues involved in implementation. Result: Considering only articles that were most relevant to the topic, the full texts of the articles were read, and 21 articles were included. Conclusion: Robotic bariatric surgery goes beyond the role of a minimally invasive technique and is becoming a central element in the digital transformation of surgery. Its progressive integration into telesurgery can contribute to the democratization of access, innovation in teaching, and strengthening of surgical research, provided it is implemented gradually and safely