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Robotic technology and the increased use of minimally invasive surgery approaches is altering the environment in which operating room personnel work and affecting how nurses must care for patients. An understanding of the history of robotics, current applications of the technology, and perioperative nursing responsibilities is needed to assure quality patient care in the wake of continued advances in technology.

Laparoscopic pyeloplasty as a treatment for ureteropelvic junction obstruction has shown comparable success rates with open pyeloplasty techniques. The use of robotic technology to assist during laparoscopic pyeloplasty procedures has been encouraged by the steep learning curve for laparoscopic surgical skills, and the complexity of laparoscopic suturing. Robotic technology provides the surgeon with the ability to filter out any physiologic hand tremor, more degrees of freedom of movement than traditional laparoscopic instruments, the ability to scale movement to provide better control for microsurgery, better ergonomics during surgery, and three-dimensional vision. Details of the procedure and specific nursing care of the patient undergoing robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics are described.