title: The Implementation of Robotic Surgery in Israel.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the last decade the number of robotic devices and the medical procedures utilizing them increased significantly around the world.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the implementation of robotic surgeries in Israel in various surgical disciplines.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective study accessing information about the annual purchases of robots, the number of physicians trained for their use, and the number of robotic surgeries performed each year, according to indications of surgery and the disciplines of the operating medical staff. The data were taken from the database of Intuitive Surgical Inc.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six robots were purchased by six medical centers in Israel during the years 2008-2013. There are currently 150 physicians trained to use the robot in one of the simulators of Intuitive Surgical Inc. Of them, 104 are listed as active robotic surgeons. Most of these physicians are urologists, gynecologists, or general surgeons. The number of robotic surgeries increased each year in all fields in which it was implemented. In 2013, 975 robotic surgeries were performed in Israel. Of them, 52% were performed by urologists; 89% of them were radical prostatectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of robotic surgery increased considerably in Israel over recent years, in urology, gynecology, general surgery, and otolaryngology. Despite the lack of conclusive evidence of the advantages of robotic surgery over the laparoscopic approach, the market power and the desire to be at the technological forefront drive many medical centers to purchase the robot and to train physicians in its use.
authors.forename: Emad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matanes
authors.forename: Sari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boulus
authors.forename: Lior
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lowenstein
mesh_terms: D016208:Databases, Factual; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends