Data were collected from four representative hospitals where robotic surgery is currently performed. Data from patients who underwent gynecological robotic surgeries (n=6,792) from 2009 to 2022 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. The patients who were operated on by a gynecologic oncologist or general gynecologist using the da Vinci^® S, Si, X, Xi, or SP were included. The diagnosis was based on the diagnosis codes of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. The year of introduction and the number of surgeries performed in each hospital are listed in Table 1.

As of 2021, the number of robotic surgeries in obstetrics and gynecology grew rapidly by 782% (1,235 cases) compared to the surgeries from the previous 10 years ago, and since the introduction of da Vinci Xi in 2017 (the introduction of Xi in Korea was in 2014), it has increased further (Fig. 2).

Based on the age distribution of patients who underwent robotic-assisted myomectomy, those in their 30s accounted for the highest proportion at 43%, followed by those in their 40s and 20s. In the case of da Vinci SP, which was introduced in 2021, the proportions of those in their 30s and 40s accounted for 26% and 39%, respectively. In the case of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) using robots, the surgical incision is smaller, and the recovery period is shorter; hence, it is highly preferred by young patients (Fig. 3).

Among the robotic obstetrics and gynecology surgeries, myomectomy (64%) accounted for the highest proportion, followed by hysterectomy (18%) and ovarian surgery (15%). In the case of myomectomy, which requires careful suturing, the introduction of robotic technology provides the same minimal invasiveness advantages as laparoscopic surgery and stability, as in open surgery; therefore, the popularity of robotic surgery is expected to increase (Fig. 4A).

Among the types of surgeries performed using the da Vinci SP system, which was introduced in 2021, ovarian surgery accounted for the highest proportion at 38%, followed by hysterectomy at 34%. The number of myomectomies accounted for 27%, which is lower than the proportion report for the previous version. The SP system does not include the tenaculum forceps that existed in the previous da Vinci model; hence, it is difficult to extract the fibroids, along with the difficulties associated with suction and irrigation during intraoperative bleeding. This system has a narrow range of free movements; hence, the proportion of myomectomies is low (Fig. 4B).

Hysterectomy is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in the United States, and common benign indications include symptomatic fibroids (51.4%), abnormal uterine bleeding (41.7%), endometriosis (30.0%), and uterine prolapse (18.2%) [3,4]. According to a 2015 Cochrane database systematic review, transvaginal hysterectomy has the advantage of a shorter time of return to normal activities than laparoscopic and abdominal hysterectomy. However, in the cases of adnexal pathology, severe endometriosis, adhesions, and enlarged uterus, vaginal access may be difficult [5]. Robotic surgery, which is the most advanced form of minimally invasive surgery, is showing a rapid increase in recent years, and its proportion is also increasing in hysterectomy [6]. According to a multicenter study in Korea in 2021, robotic-assisted hysterectomy accounted for 43% of all hysterectomies, showing a significant increase from 11% reported 5 years ago with a 4.6-fold increase in the total number of surgeries (Fig. 5).

A recent meta-analysis found that robotic and laparoscopic hysterectomies for benign disease showed no differences in the estimated blood loss, bleeding-related complications (hematomas, blood transfusions), length of hospital stay, postoperative pain levels, and recovery time before returning to daily life, and the total operating time (from incision to suture) [7]. Although the usefulness of robotic hysterectomy for benign diseases is still controversial in several randomized control trials, the postoperative quality of life (measured on a linear scale from 0 to 100) has been reported to be significantly higher in the robotic group [8]. In addition, a cohort study that evaluated the feasibility and safety of robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy for patients with various body mass indexes showed that the complication or conversion rates did not increase significantly, even with the extended operating time, for obese patients. Furthermore, a study that compared robotic and abdominal hysterectomies for enlarged uterus weighing more than 1,000 g showed that the former had a longer operation time, shorter hospital stay, and less bleeding during surgery, suggesting the advantage of robotic-assisted surgery for a wide range of patients. In the case of difficult surgery due to an enlarged uterus or pelvic adhesions, it is believed that robots capable of anatomical approaches with excellent visualization can be advantageous, can be advantageous, but further long-term research is needed [9].

Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumors in women of childbearing age, with various symptoms ranging from asymptomatic condition to hypermenorrhea, sensation of abdominal pressure including changes in urination and bowel habits, and infertility. It is known that fibroids are observed in 5-10% of infertile women, and their presence, regardless of the location, can lead to a significant increase in risk of miscarriage and infertility [10]. Despite the importance of fertility and quality of life, so far, there are limited treatments for fibroids, and there is no long-term drug treatment available. Myomectomy is the only treatment option for women interested in future fertility. Surgical treatment should be considered because intramural fibroids larger than 4 cm, including submucosal fibroids, can negatively impact fertility [11]. Laparoscopic myomectomy, or open myomectomy, can be performed to treat more than one fibroid, and robotic-assisted myomectomy has been introduced as a minimally invasive surgical treatment since the mid-2000s. A recent meta-analysis showed that robotic-assisted myomectomy showed better results regarding the number of complications, etimated blood loss, number of blood transfusions, and length of hospital stay but longer surgery duration than open myomectomy. In addition, the conversion rate to laparotomy was much lower than that of laparoscopic surgery. The incidence of complications was higher for laparoscopic and open surgeries than that of robotic-assisted surgery, mainly because of the improved three-dimensional (3D) vision system of the robotic surgical system, enabling ergonomic and precise suturing in less time using wrist instruments. In addition, robotic-assisted myomectomy effectively improved patients’ quality of life. However, further studies are needed to observe differences in long-term outcomes (e.g., postoperative pain, and fertility) [12]. Although there were no significant differences in the fertility rates between the patients who underwent laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgeries, improved surgical procedures, reduced risk of complications, and other positive long-term outcomes can be expected as surgeons become more proficient in robotic-assisted surgery with time [13].

Robotic single-port myomectomy was introduced in October 2018 in Korea and has attracted attention since then. In one study that compared robotic single- and multi-port myomectomy, fewer fibroids were extracted with the former, and the sum of the maximum diameters of the removed fibroids was small. However, there was no significant difference in hospital stay and rate of complications between the two approaches, and the pain score on the first day after surgery was lower with the single-part approach. This allows for a wide variety of treatment options depending on the patient’s characteristics and the type of disease [14].

Endometriosis is a common benign disease with a prevalence of 6-10% among women of childbearing age that can causes various symptoms such as dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, and infertility. Its symptoms may be accompanied by urinary and intestinal symptoms, depending on the location of the lesions [15]. Endometriosis can be classified according to the depth and location of infiltration, and if the depth is more than 5 mm, it is classified as deep infiltrative endometriosis (DIE) [16]. Many studies have agreed that surgical removal of DIE improves pain and the quality of life. Previously, pathologic confirmation followed by laparoscopic surgery was considered the standard treatment for endometriosis. However, the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology guidelines published in February 2022 recommend laparoscopic surgery only if previous empirical treatments have failed [17]. A meta-analysis comparing laparoscopic surgery with robotic-assisted surgery showed no significant difference in the length of hospital stay, rate of intra- and postoperative complications, conversion rate, and blood loss volume between the two approaches. Robotic surgery had a longer average surgical time than laparoscopy [18,19]. However, the introduction of robotic surgery has provided new perspectives on DIE, as it allows correction with 3D imaging and access to complex anatomical structures, thus improving surgical performance without increasing surgical time, bleeding, and the risk of perioperative complications. It even has a low conversion rate to laparotomy and a short learning curve for surgeons. With these advantages, robotic surgery may be the best option for treating DIE [20].

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a condition in which a woman’s pelvic organs, including the bladder, uterus, vagina, or rectum, have descended from their normal position in the pelvis. These symptoms manifest in 30% of women aged between 50 and 89 years, and about 11% of women under the age of 80 years require corrective procedures. POP often occurs as a process of aging in women with a history of natural birth or hysterectomy and in women with increased body mass index whose ligaments and muscles that support the pelvis are weakened. The lifetime risk of recurrence of POP after surgical treatment is 13-19% [21]. A Cochrane review comparing surgical techniques to treat POP found that abdominal sacrocolpopexy (ASC) is an effective treatment method for apical vaginal prolapse. It has longer surgical and recovery durations, and higher costs than transvaginal sacrospinous ligament fixation but lower rates of recurrence of vault prolapse and postoperative dyspareunia. Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy causes relatively little postoperative pain and has a short recovery time, but the reduced degree of freedom and increased operation time due to laparoscopic access are the main limitations. Robotic-assisted surgical techniques can overcome the limitations of laparoscopy given their features, such as 3D visualization, increased degrees of freedom, and improved ergonomic environment. Several studies comparing laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgery showed that laparoscopic surgery led to higher postoperative pain scores, higher analgesic demands, and longer surgery times [22]. In other studies, robotic and laparoscopic surgeries showed reduced blood loss compared to ASC. However, long-term data on the rates of success and revision owing to complications are needed [23].

There is no consensus on the optimal surgical treatment for recurrent POP. Some researchers prefer the vaginal approach to treat relapse of POP [21]; sacrocolpopexy can be a treatment option because the FDA prohibits using a transvaginal prosthetic mesh. In a single-center study, robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexy did not cause perioperative complications such as early bladder or bowel injury, indicating that it can help correct POP while minimizing the risk of complications from fibrosis or adhesion. The median operative time also showed no clear difference from the time for laparoscopic reconstruction [24,25]. Robotic sacrocolpopexy is a minimally invasive technique that is useful for POP patients. This shows excellent short-term reconstructive outcomes and provides a good surgery environment for surgeons. Therefore, it is expected to be a good treatment option for POP.

Robotic surgery is also widely used to treat gynecologic cancers given its high precision and stability. Among cancers treated with robotic surgery, endometrial cancer accounted for the highest proportion at 51%, followed by cervical and ovarian cancer (Fig. 6). In the case of cervical cancer, the results of the recent laparoscopic approach to carcinoma of the cervix (LACC) clinical trial of cervical cancer patients reported that MIS led to a shorter length of disease-free survival and survival than extensive open hysterectomy, and it was usually performed in the early stages of the disease. Recently, the proportion of cervical cancer is showing a decreasing trend [26].

For treating endometrial cancer, MIS is considered the first choice. Two large prospective randomized controlled trials, “laparoscopy versus laparotomy for comprehensive surgical staging of uterine cancer: Gynecologic Oncology group LAP2”, based on gynecologic oncologists in the United States, and “laparoscopic approach to cancer of the endometrium”, based in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and Scotland, reported that compared to open surgery, laparoscopic surgery reduced the length of stay in the hospital, blood loss, and the number of antiemetics [27-39].

Some studies reported that robotic surgery takes longer, but it usually has a shorter operating time than laparoscopic surgery [40-42]. With experienced surgical teams, the difference in operating time between robotic and laparoscopic surgery is considered insignificant compared to the advantages of robotic surgery [41]. In Denmark, the MIS rate has increased after the introduction of robotic surgery. Robotic surgery systems are expensive in Korea, and the high cost makes it difficult to popularize them to the same level as in Denmark, but the reduction in complications can justify the installation of expensive robotic systems [43,44].

Recently, there has been a trend of avoiding full lymph node (LN) dissection. Although sentinel nodes, ultra-staging, etc., can be performed differently at each center, there is a trend of not performing or performing sentinel when there is no suspicion of LN metastasis to prevent lymphatic edema and patients’ quality of life worsening. For the removal of sentinel LNs, robotic surgery is usually preferred [45-47].

In the early stage of cervical cancer, patients can choose MIS for radical hysterectomy or radical trachelectomy. Trachelectomy is primarily performed on patients with cervical cancer who need fertility preservation. The fertility outcome may be an essential selection criterion for choosing between open surgery and MIS. Studies have shown that robotic surgery outcomes are better than open surgery outcomes, making it an option for patients. However, when choosing a surgical approach for cervical cancer surgery, the LACC trial results can make clinicians rethink the decision to select robotic surgery [26,48]. Many clinicians choose radical hysterectomy via laparotomy in light of the results of the LACC trial. As with other diseases, robots have become more common, and robot-assisted approach to cervical cancer trials are being conducted to create results that can compete with this trial. Research is also being conducted in China [49].

The debulking operation for ovarian cancer takes a long time because the lesion is usually located in a large area in the abdominal cavity and requires staging. Nevertheless, it usually has a poor prognosis, and most patients undergo adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery. In recent years, neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been followed by cytoreductive interval surgery based on the results of the INTERNATIONAL MISSION study [50]. After neoadjuvant chemotherapy, MIS is also performed if the response is excellent, depending on the cell type. From the surgical point of view, there are often cases, such as early uterine cancer, in which there are no obvious lesions in the abdominal cavity other than the primary lesion. Therefore, robotic surgery can also be applied to ovarian cancer. Abitbol et al. [51] reported that interval robotic cytoreduction can be an option for selected patients. MIS is the universal choice for uterine cancer, but in addition to the LACC trial of cervical cancer, the treatment of ovarian cancer is cytoreductive surgery via laparotomy [51]. The MIRRORS study (Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery, Role in Optimal Debulking Ovarian Cancer, Recovery & Survival) recruited patients with stage IIIC and IV ovarian cancer and presented the robotic-assisted interval cytoreductive surgery results at the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology 2022 [52]. We expect the results of the prospective study. Iavazzo et al. [53] mentioned that robotic surgery can be used for treating ovarian cancer. However, research on patient selection is needed.