SUNNYVALE, Calif., April 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intuitive Surgical Inc. (NASDAQ: ISRG), recognized globally as a leader in minimally invasive surgical techniques and the innovator behind robotic-assisted surgery (RAS), has announced compelling findings from two newly published studies. These studies reveal that the availability of robotic-assisted surgery not only enhances access to high-quality medical care, particularly in regions known as medical deserts, but also significantly improves patient outcomes. This research underscores the growing importance of minimally invasive care in the healthcare landscape, ultimately benefiting patients in numerous ways.

The studies in question have been published in reputable medical journals: the Journal of the Society of Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgeons and the Annals of Surgery Open. They are part of a comprehensive research initiative led by Intuitive aimed at assessing the accessibility and overall impact of robotic-assisted surgery across various healthcare settings. As a leading entity in the field of minimally invasive care, Intuitive is dedicated to identifying access gaps and partnering with healthcare providers to enhance patient care through data-driven insights.

Minimally Invasive Surgery Deserts: Is There a Role for Robotic Assisted Surgery?

The first study, titled Minimally Invasive Surgery Deserts: Is There a Role for Robotic Assisted Surgery?, investigates regions where patients confront significant barriers to accessing high-quality minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Such barriers often stem from insufficient training opportunities for surgeons, geographical limitations, and inadequate hospital infrastructure. The researchers explored how the implementation of robotic-assisted surgery can facilitate a broader and more efficient adoption of MIS techniques.

Dr. Myriam Curet, Chief Medical Officer at Intuitive, emphasized the significance of these findings, stating, Minimally invasive surgery offers profound benefits for patients, from shorter recovery times to reduced postoperative complications. Yet too many patients lack access due to barriers like surgeon training or hospital location. This paper underscores the need for innovative solutions to give hospitals and surgeons more options to improve patient care and outcomes.

The study's key findings, developed by a multidisciplinary team at Intuitive, include:

  • Defining MIS Deserts: A medical desert is defined as an area where patients have limited access to essential health services. This lack of access often results in patients undergoing traditional open surgery procedures, thereby missing out on the advantages offered by minimally invasive techniques.
  • Identifying Barriers to MIS Access: The research found that the characteristics of surgeonsincluding their training backgrounds, board certifications, years of practice, and procedural volumesaccounted for nearly two-thirds of the variability in the use of minimally invasive techniques for colectomy procedures. Additionally, patient sociodemographic factors contributed to nearly 30% of the variability, while hospital characteristics, including whether they were located in rural or urban settings, accounted for about 7%.
  • Impact of Robotic-Assisted Surgery: The study indicates that addressing gaps in surgeon training could lead to a significant uptick in MIS utilization. Robotic-assisted surgery provides a shorter learning curve compared to traditional laparoscopy, enabling surgeons to achieve proficiency more swiftly. Moreover, innovative solutions such as telementoring and remote surgical support could further extend the reach of seasoned surgeons into underserved areas.

Rates of Minimally Invasive Surgery after Introduction of Robotic-Assisted Surgery for Common General Surgery Operations

The second study, titled Rates of Minimally Invasive Surgery after Introduction of Robotic-Assisted Surgery for Common General Surgery Operations, delves into how the introduction of robotic-assisted surgical systems has influenced the rates of minimally invasive procedures across U.S. hospitals. This research also considered whether the adoption of RAS has broadened access to minimally invasive surgery across diverse demographics, including age, sex, race, ethnicity, and insurance status.

Conducting an analysis of data from 408 hospitals across the United States between 2016 and 2022, researchers focused on 153 hospitals that began utilizing RAS for common general surgeries such as cholecystectomy, hernia repair, and colorectal resection. The findings of the study highlight the extensive impact that RAS adoption has had on the rates of minimally invasive surgeries:

  • Higher MIS Adoption: Hospitals that implemented robotic-assisted surgery experienced an increase in minimally invasive surgery rates from 60.5% to 65.8%, a notably greater rise compared to hospitals that did not adopt RAS, which saw rates shift from 56.1% to just 57.0%.
  • Expanded Access Across Patient Populations: Significant increases in MIS rates were observed among patients aged 35 and older, as well as those covered by Medicare or with commercial insurance, indicating a broader penetration of minimally invasive techniques into various patient demographics.
  • Consistent Gains Across Procedures: The most pronounced gains in minimally invasive surgery rates in hospitals utilizing RAS were observed in procedures such as hernia repairs and colorectal resections, where the upticks surpassed those seen in non-RAS facilities.

Previous studies have raised questions regarding whether the rise of robotic-assisted surgeries merely shifts procedures from traditional laparoscopy without expanding access to minimally invasive techniques. However, this latest research contributes to the growing body of evidence suggesting that, in many institutions, the introduction of robotic-assisted surgery is fostering overall growth in minimally invasive surgical procedures across diverse patient populations. This advancement addresses some of the inherent challenges associated with traditional laparoscopy, such as ergonomic drawbacks and limitations in two-dimensional visualization.

Dr. Zhi Ven Fong, a co-author of the studies and a specialist in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery at the Mayo Clinic Arizona, remarked, These findings suggest that the introduction of robotic-assisted surgery is helping to expand patient access to minimally invasive techniques. By removing some of the technical challenges of traditional laparoscopy, RAS has the potential to make minimally invasive surgery a more viable option for a broader range of patients.

To date, over 16 million patients have benefited from minimally invasive surgeries performed with Intuitive technologies across various fields, including urology, gynecology, colorectal surgery, general surgery, thoracic surgery, and cardiac surgery. These procedures have been shown to improve patient outcomes significantly, resulting in shorter recovery times and decreased postoperative complications, depending on individual patient circumstances and the specific procedures performed.

For further information regarding Intuitive's initiatives aimed at advancing accessibility to careparticularly through robotic-assisted surgeryplease visit