When people hear “robotic surgery,” they often imagine a machine performing a procedure by itself. The reality is far more human, and far more remarkable. As someone who recently performed the world’s first intracranial robotic tumor removal, I’ve seen firsthand how technology is transforming medicine. But it’s not what most people think. Here are five facts about robotic surgery that will help patients and the public better understand what it is and why it matters for the future of medicine.
Five facts about robotic surgery
1. Robotic surgery does not replace the surgeon
A range of procedures involve robots, from fully robotic to robotic-assisted surgeries. But a trained surgeon is always in the room and highly involved. In fully robotic surgeries, a surgeon and team spend hours training the machine to perform the procedure, with AI and real-time imaging helping guide its movements and actions. Far more common are robotic-assisted surgeries, where a doctor sits at a console and controls robotic arms and instruments, an extension of the surgeon’s hands: steady, precise, and capable of movements far smaller than the human wrist could ever make. In both cases, the robot is a tool supporting the surgeon.
2. Patients benefit from less invasive procedures
Some surgeons may hesitate to recommend robotic surgeries due to concerns around longer operating times and anesthesia exposure, potential for equipment malfunctions, or the loss of tactile feedback. But the upside of minimally invasive robotic surgeries for the patient is multifaceted. In addition to faster recovery times from smaller incisions, more surgical precision, less tissue disruption, and lower risk of infection, patients also report less pain and far less scarring. In our recent case, the system allowed millimeter-level accuracy, which in delicate brain structures is essential and would be difficult to achieve through traditional open surgery methods. In an earlier heart surgery at our hospital, the young patient was concerned about opening his chest and the large scar, so he chose robotic surgery. Instead of a large scar in the middle of his chest, his is barely visible under his armpit.
3. It’s not just hardware: Training, preparation, and teamwork are essential
Behind every successful robotic operation lie hundreds of hours of training and preparation, and a multidisciplinary team of nurses, engineers, anesthesiologists, and specialists. For the world’s first robotic brain tumor removal surgery, our team spent hours refining techniques, rehearsing on simulation models, and mapping every step of the operation. Each case is unique, as each patient’s anatomy is unique. The surgical plan must be tailored to the patient’s anatomy, tumor size, and surrounding structures.
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Technology is only as effective as the skill and judgment behind it. As robotic and AI-assisted systems advance, surgeons must continuously upskill to keep pace. It’s not enough for institutions to buy the latest technologies and machines; they must also invest in training and workforce development initiatives to ensure that innovation translates into real patient benefit.
4. Artificial intelligence is transforming robotic surgeries, but it won’t replace skill
AI holds enormous potential in the health space, particularly in robotic surgery. It is increasingly being used to map tumors, plan the surgical approach, predict complications, and help guide the procedure in real time alongside a magnified 3D view of the operating field. While AI-assisted robotics can help identify critical structures to minimize damage, the surgeon’s judgment, decision-making, and expertise are all critical.
There are some functions AI can do autonomously, like suturing wounds, which can free up the surgeon to focus on more complicated tasks. The integration of AI and robotics is making surgery more precise, responsive, and efficient, reducing operation time, but it cannot fully replace the skill of a doctor.
5. Robotic surgery can actually reduce costs in the long term
A common misconception is that robotic surgery is prohibitively expensive. While there is upfront investment in robotic systems and training, as this is still a cutting-edge technology, the cost savings for health systems from reduced hospital stays, fewer complications, and faster recoveries will balance out in the long term. As technology becomes more widespread and equipment costs decline, the economics are expected to favor robotic approaches, which are already becoming more prevalent for certain types of surgeries.
It is exciting to see the potential of global medical advances such as robotic brain tumor removal. What we’ve accomplished in the operating room is just the start. As robotics merges with imaging, artificial intelligence, and data analytics, surgery will become even safer, more predictive, and more personalized. As more institutions integrate surgical robots and AI technologies into their facilities and capabilities, the health system efficiencies could be tremendous. First, we must dispel some misperceptions so both patients and doctors understand the benefits these new techniques hold.
Homoud Aldahash is a skull base and tumor consultant at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He previously served as deputy director of the Neuroscience Centre and director of the Integrated Practice Units for Skull Base Surgery and Neuro-Oncology.
He completed his neurosurgery training through the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, followed by fellowships in cerebrovascular, endoscopic, and open skull base surgery at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Aldahash also holds a master’s degree in health leadership from McGill University.
His clinical and research interests include minimally invasive skull base surgery, cerebrovascular disorders, and neuro-oncology. He has led several pioneering initiatives, including performing the first intraoperative radiotherapy for brain metastases in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East and North Africa region.
