Intuitive Announces Publication of Landmark Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Intuitive has announced the publication of a landmark systematic review and meta-analysis in the peer-reviewed Annals of Surgery Open.
The study analyzed data from more than 14 million da Vinci, laparoscopic and open procedures across 13 common benign (non-cancerous) conditions, making it the largest comparative meta-analysis of its kind. The authors found da Vinci surgery was associated with statistically significant improvements in select perioperative outcomes compared with laparoscopic and open surgery.
“Patients want confidence that their surgical approach will support a strong recovery and help them get back to work and to the people and moments that matter most to them. Surgeons and care teams need robust evidence to help guide those decisions,” said Jaime Wong, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Intuitive. “Until now, evidence comparing surgical approaches for benign conditions has been spread across hundreds of studies. This analysis provides one of the most comprehensive assessments to date, helping patients and clinicians make more informed decisions.”
Key findings
da Vinci surgery vs. laparoscopic surgery:
- 54% lower odds of conversion to open surgery
- 13% lower odds of requiring a blood transfusion
- Hospital stays approximately 4 hours shorter
- Return to work approximately 2 days sooner
- Lower postoperative pain scores and less pain medication use
- No statistically significant differences in complications, infections, readmissions, or 30-day mortality
- Average operative time approximately 24 minutes longer
da Vinci surgery vs. open surgery:
- 69% lower odds of requiring a blood transfusion
- 46% lower odds of 30-day postoperative complications
- 60% lower odds of surgical site infection
- Hospital stays approximately 2 days shorter
- Return to work approximately 5 days sooner
- Lower odds of intraoperative complications, readmission, reoperation, and 30-day mortality.
- 37% lower odds of requiring pain medication within 30 days
- Average operative time approximately 46 minutes longer
The analysis synthesized 14 years of published evidence spanning 32 countries, drawing from 13 randomized controlled trials, 21 prospective cohort studies, 101 database studies, and 231 retrospective cohort studies.
Led by Thomas H. Shin, MD, PhD, bariatric surgeon at Mass General Brigham, and conducted by researchers from the University of Virginia, Mass General Brigham, and Intuitive, the analysis examined procedures performed for benign conditions across gynecology, general surgery, bariatric surgery, urology, and hernia repair — including hysterectomy, cholecystectomy, and colorectal surgery.
“By bringing together evidence from randomized trials, prospective studies, and large real-world datasets, this analysis provides a broad view of perioperative outcomes across multiple procedures and specialties,” said Dr. Shin. “The findings add to our understanding of how surgical approaches compare while recognizing that the most appropriate approach depends on the procedure, patient, surgeon, and clinical setting.”
This study complements the previously published meta-analysis of 30-day surgical outcomes across seven oncological surgical procedures, led by Rocco Ricciardi, MD, MPH, chief of colon and rectal surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. Together, the studies expand the comparative evidence available to patients, surgeons, and health systems across a broad range of benign and oncological conditions.
More than 21 million patients worldwide have been operated on by surgeons using the da Vinci system, with more than 3.1 million da Vinci procedures performed in 2025 alone.
Source: Intuitive