Study links da Vinci surgery to shorter stays vs. other methods

Intuitive (NASDAQ: ISRG) announced the publication of a systematic review and meta-analysis in the peer-reviewed Annals of Surgery Open, examining outcomes associated with da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery compared with laparoscopic and open surgery across 13 common benign conditions.

The analysis drew on data from more than 14 million procedures across 32 countries, spanning 14 years of published evidence. It included 13 randomized controlled trials, 21 prospective cohort studies, 101 database studies, and 231 retrospective cohort studies. The study was led by Thomas H. Shin, MD, PhD, a bariatric surgeon at Mass General Brigham, with researchers from the University of Virginia, Mass General Brigham, and Intuitive.

Compared with laparoscopic surgery, da Vinci surgery was associated with 54% lower odds of conversion to open surgery, 13% lower odds of requiring a blood transfusion, hospital stays approximately four hours shorter, and return to work approximately two days sooner. No statistically significant differences were found in complications, infections, readmissions, or 30-day mortality. Average operative time was approximately 24 minutes longer.

Compared with open surgery, da Vinci surgery was associated with 69% lower odds of requiring a blood transfusion, 46% lower odds of 30-day postoperative complications, 60% lower odds of surgical site infection, hospital stays approximately two days shorter, and return to work approximately five days sooner. Average operative time was approximately 46 minutes longer.

The study covered procedures in gynecology, general surgery, bariatric surgery, urology, and hernia repair, including hysterectomy, cholecystectomy, and colorectal surgery.

"The findings add to our understanding of how surgical approaches compare while recognizing that the most appropriate approach depends on the procedure, patient, surgeon, and clinical setting," said Dr. Shin.

Intuitive states that more than 21 million patients worldwide have undergone procedures performed by surgeons using the da Vinci system, with more than 3.1 million procedures performed in 2025.

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