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This study aims to describe the present status of robotic surgery (RS) in Latin America. A cross-sectional study was conducted, collecting data from 10 robotic programs in 6 Latin American countries through surveys of surgical specialists and heads of surgical services. The utilization of RS in Latin America exhibits significant variability depending on the specific country and healthcare facilities. This variability encompasses factors such as the annual volume of surgeries, the types of institutions involved, and the primary medical specialties employing this technology. Concerted efforts within the region to augment scientific research output about robotic procedures are imperative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robotic surgery (RS) is an evolution of minimally invasive surgery that combines medical science, robotics, and engineering. The first robots approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were the Da Vinci Surgical System and the ZEUS Robotic Surgical System, which have been improving over time. Through the decades, the equipment applied to RS had undergone a wide transformation as a response to the development of new techniques and facilities for the assembly and implementation of the own. RS has revolutionized the field of urology, enabling surgeons to perform complex procedures with greater precision and accuracy, and many other surgical specialties such as gynecology, general surgery, otolaryngology, cardiothoracic surgery, and neurosurgery. Several benefits, such as a better approach to the surgical site, a three-dimensional image that improves depth perception, and smaller scars, enhance range of motion, allowing the surgeon to conduct more complicated surgical operations, and reduced postoperative complications have made robotic-assisted surgery an increasingly popular approach. However, some points like the cost of surgical procedures, equipment-instrument, and maintenance are important aspects to consider. Machine learning will likely have a role to play in surgical training shortly through "automated performance metrics," where algorithms observe and "learn" individual surgeons' techniques, assess performance, and anticipate surgical outcomes with the potential to individualize surgical training and aid decision-making in real time., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Rivero-Moreno et al.)