TELEROBOTIC ASSISTED LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY - INITIAL LABORATORY AND CLINICAL-EXPERIENCE

Objectives. To assess the feasibility of telerobotic assisted surgery. Methods. In a laboratory model, a cholecystectomy, splenectomy, and n ephrectomy were performed by an inexperienced surgeon who was being me ntored by an experienced surgeon stationed at a remote site. The remot e surgeon controlled the laparoscopic camera by utilizing a teleroboti c system. In patients, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, varix ligation, a nd bladder suspension were performed by an experienced team utilizing a robotic system controlled by an experienced surgeon from a remote si te. Results. In both the laboratory and clinical setting, all procedur es were successfully completed without complications. Conclusions. Cur rent technology is available to successfully allow for telerobotic ass isted surgery.