title: Computer-assisted reproductive surgery: why it matters to reproductive endocrinology and infertility subspecialists.
abstract: Trained fertility specialists possess a unique clinical perspective and an extensive medical and technological armamentarium to overcome reproductive dysfunction: it is their privilege and ethical duty to lead the field of reproductive surgery. However, modern reproductive surgery can no longer exist outside of the realm of advanced laparoscopy. This has been a major hurdle to the thriving of surgery within our subspecialty, owing to the time and effort required to achieve and maintain proficiency in the anti-ergonomic environment of conventional laparoscopy. Computer-assisted surgery minimizes aptitudinal restrictions to the adoption of advanced laparoscopy. As such, it promotes strategy over technique and may hold the key to the continued success of high-specialty reproductive surgery.
authors.affiliation: Center for Infertility and Reproductive Surgery and Center for Robotic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: agargiulo@partners.org.
authors.forename: Antonio R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Gargiulo
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D004704:Endocrinology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation; D018456:Reproductive Medicine / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation; D013523:Surgical Equipment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Laparoscopy; computer-assisted surgery; endometriosis; fibroids; infertility; reproductive surgery; robotic surgery; tubal reanastomosis