# Disadvantages of robotic surgery Disadvantages of robotic surgery Cost Robotic surgery remains more costly than minimally invasive alternatives. Through upscaling of use between surgical specialties, the direct costs of purchasing a novel robotic system can be partially o ff set; however, consumable costs remain high. When compared with open techniques, robotic surgical procedures can reduce hospital stay , thus in part o ff setting this expenditure; however, it remains di ffi cult to demonstrate significant improvement in length of stay or clinical outcomes when compared with other minimally invasive alternatives. Another consideration is the increased operating time and overall learning curve requirement when establishing a robotic surgical programme. While some specialties have reported shorter learning curves than in the early days of laparoscopic surgery , this is highly heterogeneous, across both specialties and practitioners. Furthermore, although shared interspecialty Figure 10.3 Robotic theatre set-up demonstrating the da Vinci Xi sys - tem. The surgeon and trainee surgeon are positioned at joint consoles remote from the operating table with the surgical assistant and scrub nurse at the bedside (courtesy of Mr Tom Routledge, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK). quently reduces the access opportunities for each individual user, potentially prolonging the learning curve. Disadvantages of robotic surgery Cost Robotic surgery remains more costly than minimally invasive alternatives. Through upscaling of use between surgical specialties, the direct costs of purchasing a novel robotic system can be partially o ff set; however, consumable costs remain high. When compared with open techniques, robotic surgical procedures can reduce hospital stay , thus in part o ff setting this expenditure; however, it remains di ffi cult to demonstrate significant improvement in length of stay or clinical outcomes when compared with other minimally invasive alternatives. Another consideration is the increased operating time and overall learning curve requirement when establishing a robotic surgical programme. While some specialties have reported shorter learning curves than in the early days of laparoscopic surgery , this is highly heterogeneous, across both specialties and practitioners. Furthermore, although shared interspecialty Figure 10.3 Robotic theatre set-up demonstrating the da Vinci Xi sys - tem. The surgeon and trainee surgeon are positioned at joint consoles remote from the operating table with the surgical assistant and scrub nurse at the bedside (courtesy of Mr Tom Routledge, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK). quently reduces the access opportunities for each individual user, potentially prolonging the learning curve. Disadvantages of robotic surgery Cost Robotic surgery remains more costly than minimally invasive alternatives. Through upscaling of use between surgical specialties, the direct costs of purchasing a novel robotic system can be partially o ff set; however, consumable costs remain high. When compared with open techniques, robotic surgical procedures can reduce hospital stay , thus in part o ff setting this expenditure; however, it remains di ffi cult to demonstrate significant improvement in length of stay or clinical outcomes when compared with other minimally invasive alternatives. Another consideration is the increased operating time and overall learning curve requirement when establishing a robotic surgical programme. While some specialties have reported shorter learning curves than in the early days of laparoscopic surgery , this is highly heterogeneous, across both specialties and practitioners. Furthermore, although shared interspecialty Figure 10.3 Robotic theatre set-up demonstrating the da Vinci Xi sys - tem. The surgeon and trainee surgeon are positioned at joint consoles remote from the operating table with the surgical assistant and scrub nurse at the bedside (courtesy of Mr Tom Routledge, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK). quently reduces the access opportunities for each individual user, potentially prolonging the learning curve.