Winter Haven Hospital and University of Florida, Winter Haven, Florida, USA.
Since its inception in early 2000, robotic assistance with urologic procedures continues to expand. The magnification, three-dimensional visualization, and surgical control offered by the latest daVinci Si-HD system has led to its integration into microsurgical procedures for male infertility. The addition of robotic assistance may allow an improvement in outcomes similar to when the operating microscope was introduced in microsurgery. Though the use of robotics in microsurgery is still in its early phases, initial findings are encouraging.
This review covers robotic microsurgical procedures and tools for infertility and chronic orchialgia/testicular pain such as vasovasostomy, vasoepididymostomy, varicocelectomy, testicular sperm extraction and targeted denervation of the spermatic cord. Preliminary human clinical studies appear to show improved operative efficiency and comparable outcomes. The use of robotic assistance during robotic microsurgical vasovasostomy appears to decrease operative duration and improve the rate of return of postoperative sperm counts compared to the pure microsurgical technique.
Long-term prospective controlled trials are necessary to assess the true benefit for robotic-assisted microsurgery. The preliminary findings are promising, but further evaluation is warranted.
Written by:
Parekattil SJ, Brahmbhatt JV. Are you the author?
Reference: Curr Opin Urol. 2011 Nov;21(6):493-9.
doi: 10.1097/MOU.0b013e32834bb783
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 21934622
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