Robotics in vascular surgery: Current status and potentials

While endoscopic surgery has rapidly made headway among various specialties, vascular surgeons worldwide still seem uncomfortable surrendering to this minimally invasive technique. Despite a small number of impressive series of laparoscopy-assisted and totally laparoscopic aortic treatments, the technical challenge of this approach seems to prevent vascular surgeons from frequently practicing this technique. This explanation might be due to the fact that the laparoscopic approach of the (abdominal) aorta and the laparoscopic creation of an aortic anastomosis is a serious technical challenge that demands a great deal of practice and experience before it can be applied in a clinical setting.