Precision surgery—The introduction of the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System in Hungary

Abstract

Surgical robots have been utilized for approximately three decades, primarily in high-income countries. In this paper, we focus on the experiences surrounding the introduction in Hungary of a specific robotic system originating from the United States, the da Vinci Surgical System. Manufactured and distributed by the American company Intuitive since 1995, this surgical system has been used globally in over ten million surgical procedures, with around 60,000 specialists trained to operate it. In Hungary, the robot system is distributed by the Sofmedica healthcare group. Besides Hungary, the company also operates in Romania, Greece, Bulgaria, and Cyprus. In Hungary, the company has eight active robot projects. Robot-assisted surgical interventions began in Hungary in 2022, with some healthcare facilities receiving the da Vinci System in 2023. Accordingly, the number of completed surgeries currently stands at a few thousand. During our review of the literature, we found that publications concerning robotic systems focus on three main areas: the development of robotic technology, comparisons of laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgery outcomes and advantages, and cost-benefit analyses of robot acquisition. Based on the available information, we present our findings from the past two years of Hungarian experiences, specifically those of the University Teaching Hospital in Győr-Moson-Sopron County.