Telemedicine and Robotic Surgery: A Narrative Review to Analyze Advantages, Limitations and Future Developments

Today, the introduction and application of telemedicine are leading to a radical transformation in healthcare systems all over the world. In particular, the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) can have a positive impact on the containment of healthcare costs. The concept of telemedicine has also been applied to surgery, defining telesurgery as the use of robotic systems composed of one or more arms controlled via a console located in a remote position from the patient, where the surgeon sits and performs the surgical tasks. This revolution—made possible by technological advances in robotic systems and ICT—allows surgical care to be provided to patients in remote locations. Telesurgery, therefore, adds to the advantages of minimally invasive robotic surgery by overcoming geographical barriers and allowing patients to avoid traveling. Although there has been a rapid increase in interest and demand for telesurgery, its use in clinical practice is still rare. The purpose of this article is to review the advantages and benefits of the use of telesurgery, to identify the limitations that do not yet allow its use in current clinical practice, and to describe the existing challenges and possible solutions that are being explored by research.