title: Robotic surgery in the obese gynecologic patient.
abstract: Despite robust interest in minimally invasive surgery for obese gynecologic patients, widespread use by gynecologic surgeons has been hindered by the technical difficulty of completing these procedures. The use of robotic assistance to overcome these challenges continues to increase. This study discusses the problem of obesity in the United States, provides basic definitions and calculations related to the disease, reviews some of the literature supporting laparoscopic surgery in obese patients, explores the emergence of robotics in this patient population, and offers "surgical pearls" to aid in the successful completion of minimally invasive robotic gynecologic procedures in heavier patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA. wmb7@columbia.edu
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gossner
authors.forename: Noah A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Goldman
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States