Evolution of robotic approaches for colorectal surgery

Abstract

The evolution of robotic surgery is not unlike the process described by Charles Darwin (Fig. 2.1) in his seminal treatise, On the Origin of Species. His premise of natural selection is based on the concept that certain genetic traits of an organism encode for enhanced robustness and fecundity. Organisms capable of adapting to their environments reproduced, passed on their genetic material, and survived. The development of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is analogous in that techniques which have translated into improved outcomes and perceived advantages have established themselves in surgical culture and continue to develop.