Robotic Hysterectomy is often touted as a minimally invasive gynaecologic surgery. Robotically-assisted Hysterectomies offer various advantages in women with a variety of gynaecologic cancers, severe endometriosis and pelvic adhesive disease. There are other factors that may cause a GP to favour the use of robotic assistance compared to other methods.

A large number of studies have found little difference in complications and recovery time between laparoscopic and robotic hysterectomy. Without question, robotic surgery is far more expensive than laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Other studies have shown that robotic hysterectomy requires the patient to be under anaesthesia for longer periods of time. In most cases robotic surgery requires a greater number of incisions than Laparoscopic Hysterectomy. Although Robotic-assisted Hysterectomy clearly has a place in modern gynaecologic surgery it is less clear that it is “minimally invasive” compared to other forms of hysterectomy such as Laparoscopic or Vaginal Hysterectomy. Further studies are needed before the exact role of Robotic-assisted Hysterectomy can be determined.