Robotic hepatectomy

The description of the first laparoscopic liver surgery in 1993 introduced a new era of minimally invasive liver surgery which slowly gained acceptance since then. In 2008, an international consensus meeting was held in Louisville, Kentucky, to discuss the applications and limitations of minimally invasive liver surgery. The advent of robotic surgery has interested liver surgeons for the features it has, namely, high-quality 3-D image, increased freedom of movement with articulating hand tools, and the ability to suture with similar safe sutures in narrow spaces by eliminating shaking. Robotic surgery has the potential to exceed some of the limits of laparoscopy, and its application in this area has expanded rapidly in recent years. This chapter will shed light on the history of minimally invasive liver surgery, patient selection for robotic surgery, general technical aspects, limitations, and finally the literature review of safety and outcomes.