In an analysis of adverse events in robotic surgical systems during a 14 year period from 2000 to 2013, researchers found 144 deaths linked to robotic surgery, or 1.4 percent of the 10,624 reports analyzed.
Here are six things to know:
1. Researchers sought to determine the frequency, causes and patient impact of adverse events in robotic procedures across different surgical specialties.
2. Using adverse events data related to robotic systems and instruments used in minimally invasive surgery, researchers found that 1.4 percent of adverse events resulted in 144 deaths.
3. Furthermore, 1,391 patient injuries were reported, and 75.9 percent of adverse events were the result of device malfunctions.
4. Researchers found the numbers of injury and death events per procedure have stayed relatively constant since 2007.
5. Surgical specialties such as gynecology and urology had lower numbers of injuries, deaths and conversions per procedure than complex surgeries such as cardiothoracic and head and neck surgeries.
6. Device and instrument malfunctions such as burnt pieces or broken pieces falling to a patient, system errors and video and image problems made up a major part of the reports, according to researchers.
