Reviews
2 July 2025

Narrative review on telerobotics: applications, challenges, and future perspectives

Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
77
Views
35
Downloads

Authors

Telerobotics has emerged as a pivotal technology across multiple domains, including industrial automation, healthcare, and telepresence. This narrative review synthesizes current research and advancements in telerobotics, analyzing its impact on efficiency, precision, and human safety. The review also explores key challenges such as latency, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and economic constraints that hinder widespread adoption. Finally, future directions are discussed, emphasizing improvements in network reliability, human-machine interaction, and cost-effective implementations to expand the practical applications of telerobotics.

Altmetrics

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Citations

1. Paraiso MFR, Falcone T. Robot-assisted laparoscopy [Internet]. UpToDate. [cited 2023 Apr 29]. Available from: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/robot-assisted-laparoscopy?search=Robot-assisted%20laparoscopy&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~35&usage_type=default&display_rank=1
2. Ballantyne GH. Robotic surgery, telerobotic surgery, telepresence, and telementoring. Review of early clinical results. Surg Endosc 2002;16:1389-402.
3. Cepolina F, Razzoli RP. An introductory review of robotically assisted surgical systems. Int J Med Robot 2022;18.
4. Buia A, Stockhausen F, Hanisch E. Laparoscopic surgery: A qualified systematic review. World J Methodol 2015;5:238-54.
5. Limb C, Rockall T. Principles of laparoscopic surgery. Surgery 2020;38:161-71.
6. Mehrdad S, Liu F, Pham MT, et al. Review of advanced medical telerobots. Appl Sci (Switzerland) 2021.
7. Shah J, Vyas A, Vyas D. The History of Robotics in Surgical Specialties. Am J Robot Surg 2014;1:12-20.
8. Leal Ghezzi T, Campos Corleta O. 30 Years of Robotic Surgery. World J Surg 2016;40:2550-7.
9. Satava RM. Robotic surgery: from past to future- a personal journey. Surg Clin North Am 2003;83:1491.
10. Hansen RN, Saour BM, Serafini B, et al. Opportunities and Barriers to Rural Telerobotic Surgical Health Care in 2021: Report and Research Agenda from a Stakeholder Workshop. Telemed E-Health 2022;28:1050-7.
11. Sackier JM, Wang Y. Robotically assisted laparoscopic surgery. From concept to development. Surg Endosc 1994;8:63-6.
12. Micali S, Virgili G, Vannozzi E, et al. Feasibility of telementoring between Baltimore (USA) and Rome (Italy): the first five cases. J Endourol 2000;14:493.
13. Panait L, Rafiq A, Tomulescu V, et al. Telementoring versus on-site mentoring in virtual reality-based surgical training. Surg Endosc 2006;20:113.
14. Marescaux J, Leroy J, Rubino F, et al. Transcontinental Robot-Assisted Remote Telesurgery: Feasibility and Potential Applications. Ann Surg 2002;235:487-92.
15. Marescaux J, Leroy J, Gagner M, et al. Transatlantic robot-assisted telesurgery. Nature 2001;413:379-80.
16. Anvari M, McKinley C, Stein H. Establishment of the world's first telerobotic remote surgical service: for provision of advanced laparoscopic surgery in a rural community. Ann Surg 2005;241:460.
17. Haluck RS, Krummel TM. Computers and virtual reality for surgical education in the 21st century. Arch Surg 2000;135:786.
18. Herron DM, Marohn M, SAGES-MIRA Robotic Surgery Consensus Group. A consensus document on robotic surgery. Surg Endosc 2008;22:313
19. Oppenheimer P, Weghorst S, MacFarlane M, Sinanan M. Immersive surgical robotic interfaces. Stud Health Technol Inform 1999;62:242.
20. Liberman D, Trinh QD, Jeldres C, Zorn KC. Is robotic surgery cost-effective: yes. Curr Opin Urol 2012;22:61.
21. Berguer R, Forkey DL, Smith WD. Ergonomic problems associated with laparoscopic surgery. Surg Endosc 1999;13:466.
22. Tan A, Ashrafian H, Scott AJ, et al. Robotic surgery: disruptive innovation or unfulfilled promise? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the first 30 years. Surg Endosc 2016;30:4330-52.
23. de’Angelis N, Khan J, Marchegiani F, et al. Robotic surgery in emergency setting: 2021 WSES position paper. World J Emerg Surg 2022;17:4.
24. Osagiede O, Spaulding AC, Cochuyt JJ, et al. Factors Associated With Minimally Invasive Surgery for Colorectal Cancer in Emergency Settings. J Surg Res 2019;243:75-82.
25. Milone M, Anoldo P, de’Angelis N, et al. The role of RObotic surgery in EMergency setting (ROEM): protocol for a multicentre, observational, prospective international study on the use of robotic platform in emergency surgery. World J Emerg Surg 2024;19:20.
26. Milone M, Vertaldi S, Bracale U, et al. Robotic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: Three case reports. Medicine (Baltimore) 2019;98:e16010.
27. Kudsi OY, Gokcal F, Bou-Ayash N, Chang K. Comparison of Midterm Outcomes Between Open and Robotic Emergent Ventral Hernia Repair. Surg Innov 2021;28:449-57.
28. Curfman KR, Jones IF, Conner JR, et al. Robotic colorectal surgery in the emergent diverticulitis setting: is it safe? A review of large national database. Int J Colorectal Dis 2023;38:142.
29. Reinisch A, Liese J, Padberg W, Ulrich F. Robotic operations in urgent general surgery: a systematic review. J Robot Surg 2023;17:275-290.
30. Maertens V, Stefan S, Rawlinson E, et al. Emergency robotic colorectal surgery during COVID-19 pandemic: A retrospective case series study. Laparosc Endosc Robot Surg 2022;5:57-60.
31. Robinson TD, Sheehan JC, Patel PB, et al. Emergent robotic versus laparoscopic surgery for perforated gastrojejunal ulcers: a retrospective cohort study of 44 patients. Surg Endosc 2022;36:1573-7.
32. De Simone B, Abu-Zidan FM, Gumbs AA, et al. Knowledge, attitude, and practice of artificial intelligence in emergency and trauma surgery, the ARIES project: an international web-based survey. World J Emerg Surg 2022;17:10.
33. De Simone B, Chouillard E, Gumbs AA, et al. Artificial intelligence in surgery: the emergency surgeon's perspective (the ARIES project). Discov Health Syst 2022;1:9.
34. Sermonesi G, Tian BWCA, Vallicelli C, et al. Cesena guidelines: WSES consensus statement on laparoscopic-first approach to general surgery emergencies and abdominal trauma. World J Emerg Surg 2023;18:57.
35. O'Sullivan S, Nevejans N, Allen C, et al. Legal, regulatory, and ethical frameworks for development of standards in artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous robotic surgery. Int J Med Robot 2019;15.
36. Pai SN, Jeyaraman M, Jeyaraman N, et al. In the Hands of a Robot, From the Operating Room to the Courtroom: The Medicolegal Considerations of Robotic Surgery. Cureus 2023;15:e43634.
37. Alip SL, Kim J, Rha KH, Han WK. Future platforms of robotic surgery. Urol Clin North Am 2022;49:23-38.
38. Bramhe S, Pathak SS. Robotic Surgery: A Narrative Review. Cureus 2022;14:e29179.
39. Peters BS, Armijo PR, Krause C, et al. Review of emerging surgical robotic technology. Surg Endosc 2018;32:1636-55.
40. Spinelli A, David G, Gidaro S, et al. First experience in colorectal surgery with a new robotic platform with haptic feedback. Colorectal Dis 2017.
41. Hagn U, Konietschke R, Tobergte A, et al. DLR MiroSurge: a versatile system for research in endoscopic telesurgery. Int J Comp Assist Radiol Surg 2010;5:183-93.
42. Haber G, Autorino R, Laydner H, et al. SPIDER surgical system for urologic procedures with laparoendoscopic single-site surgery: from initial laboratory experience to first clinical application. Eur Urol 2012;61:415-22.
43. Pantalone D, Faini GS, Cialdai F, et al. Robot-assisted surgery in space: pros and cons. A review from the surgeon’s point of view. NPJ Microgravity 2021;7:56.
44. Tranzatto M, Miki T, Dharmadhikari M, et al. CERBERUS in the DARPA Subterranean Challenge. Sci Robot 2022;25;7.
45. Cai YL, Ju JT, Liu WB, Zhang J. Military Trauma and Surgical Procedures in Conflict Area: A Review for the Utilization of Forward Surgical Team. Mil Med 2018;183:e97-106.
46. Martinic G. Glimpses of future battlefield medicine – the proliferation of robotic surgeons and unmanned vehicles and technologies. JMVH 2021;22:3.
47. Naufel S, Knaack GL, Miranda R, et al. DARPA investment in peripheral nerve interfaces for prosthetics, prescriptions, and plasticity. J Neurosci Methods 2020;332:108539.
48. Hockstein NG, Gourin CG, Faust RA, Terris DJ. A history of robots: from science fiction to surgical robotics. J Robot Surg 2007;1:113-8.
49. Johnson K, Pearce F, Westenskow D, et al. Clinical evalutation of the Life Support for Trauma and Transport (LSTAT) platform. Crit Care 2002;6:439-46.
50. Mascagni P, Alapatt D, Sestini L, et al. Computer vision in surgery: from potential to clinical value. NPJ Digit Med 2022;5:163.
51. Liu S, Yao S, Zhu G, et al. Operation Status of Teleoperator Based Shared Control Telerobotic System. J Intell Robot Syst: Theory Appl 2021;101.
52. Satava R, Wolf R. Disruptive visions: Biosurgery. Surg Endosc 2003;17:1833-6.
53. Soong RK, Bachand GD, Neves HP, et al. Powering an inorganic nanodevice with a biomolecular motor. Science 2000;290:1555-8.
54. Yaacoub JA, Noura HN, Salman O, Chehab A. Robotics cyber security: vulnerabilities, attacks, countermeasures, and recommendations. Int J Inf Secur 2022;21:115-58.

How to Cite



Narrative review on telerobotics: applications, challenges, and future perspectives. (2025). Surgery in Geriatrics and Frailty, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/sigaf.2025.20