Dr. Marco Ha · Author and medical reviewer
Paediatric and trauma surgeon · Last medically reviewed
Direct answer
The robot does not operate autonomously, and there is no universal failure rate
A surgeon controls the robotic arms from a console. Magnified three-dimensional vision and wristed instruments may help selected deep, confined or reconstruction-heavy procedures, but bleeding, infection, organ injury and conversion remain possible, and the platform adds cost and equipment burdens. Compare it directly with laparoscopy or open surgery for the same disease and with the operating team's actual experience.
Start with your main concern
Choose a decision pathway
The same platform can have very different benefits and risks across operations.
What is da Vinci robotic surgery?
The da Vinci system is a computer-assisted surgical platform. A surgeon views high-definition three-dimensional images at a console and controls the camera and instruments beside the patient. The system does not diagnose disease, decide what to remove or complete an operation independently.
Compared with straight laparoscopic instruments, wristed instruments offer additional angles, motion scaling and some tremor filtering. These engineering advantages can be useful in deep spaces or fine suturing; whether they improve complications, admission or long-term outcomes depends on the exact disease, procedure and team.
How do robotic, laparoscopic and open surgery compare?
| Approach | Potential strengths | Main considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Open | Direct access and rapid control; important with complex adhesions or major bleeding | Larger incision and recovery burden may occur, but it can still be the safest approach |
| Laparoscopic | Mature minimally invasive technique with established outcomes for many operations | Straight-instrument angles are limited; deep suturing depends on procedure and expertise |
| Robotic | Magnified 3D view, wristed instruments and motion scaling | Self-pay cost, setup, space and size, lack of direct touch and the team's learning curve |
A useful question is: “For my condition and this exact operation, which outcome is expected to improve with the robot, and how does that compare with this surgeon's laparoscopic results?”
What is the failure rate of da Vinci surgery?
There is no cross-procedure percentage. “Failure” might mean inability to complete a planned step, conversion, intraoperative complication, reoperation, recurrence or an oncologic endpoint. These are not interchangeable.
Ask for evidence from the same procedure in comparable patients, plus the team's volume, conversion reasons and serious-complication definitions. Combining every robotic operation into one rate is more misleading than having no number.
What are the disadvantages and possible complications?
- Cost: the system and disposable instruments can create substantial self-pay expense.
- Time and space: docking and instrument exchange take time; size can limit use in children or small cavities.
- Tactile feedback: direct touch is absent, so tension is judged through visual cues and experience.
- Learning curve: surgeon, assistant, anaesthesia, nursing and technical teams all affect the pathway.
- Equipment: uncommon instrument or system problems may require replacement or another approach.
- Technique versus outcome: a mature laparoscopic operation may not gain a meaningful clinical advantage.
Most “long-term effects” are procedure-specific: bleeding, infection, organ, vessel or nerve injury, leakage, thrombosis, pulmonary or anaesthetic problems, pain and recurrence. Positioning and instrument-related injury are additional considerations. Minimally invasive does not mean risk-free.
Is conversion to laparoscopy or open surgery a failure?
Not necessarily. Severe adhesions, unclear anatomy, inadequate space, equipment problems or bleeding may make an additional incision or conversion the safest way to finish. Discuss the team's threshold, backup equipment and major-bleeding plan before surgery.
How much does robotic surgery cost in Taiwan?
Coverage and self-pay vary with the disease, procedure, materials and current hospital billing. Another patient's invoice or an advertised price is not an individual estimate. Ask for itemised covered, necessary self-paid and optional self-paid costs.
Eight questions to ask before surgery
- Is surgery necessary, and what is its exact goal?
- Why robotic rather than mature laparoscopy or open surgery?
- Which patient outcome is expected to improve, and does the evidence fit me?
- How many of this exact operation has the team completed?
- How are failure, serious complication and conversion defined?
- What is the backup plan if the platform cannot continue?
- What is covered, necessary self-pay and optional self-pay?
- What are the admission, pain, work or school, and follow-up plans?
Frequently asked questions
What is the failure rate of da Vinci robotic surgery?
There is no single rate that applies to every disease and operation. First define failure—complication, inability to complete a planned step, conversion, recurrence or oncologic outcome—then review data for the same procedure and comparable patients together with the team's experience.
What are the disadvantages of robotic surgery?
Limitations include out-of-pocket cost, equipment and consumables, setup time, lack of direct tactile feedback, size constraints in children or small spaces, the team learning curve and uncommon device or instrument problems. Technical advantages do not guarantee better outcomes in every operation.
What long-term effects or complications can follow robotic surgery?
There is no universal robotic-only complication list. Bleeding, infection, injury to organs, vessels or nerves, thrombosis, anaesthetic problems, pain and recurrence mainly depend on the underlying disease and operation; positioning and instrument-related risks also matter.
Is conversion to laparoscopy or open surgery a failure?
Not necessarily. Conversion because of severe adhesions, bleeding, unclear anatomy, limited space or equipment issues may be the correct decision to complete the operation safely. Ask how conversion is defined for that procedure and about the team's experience.
Is robotic surgery always better than laparoscopy?
No. Selected deep, confined or reconstruction-heavy operations may benefit, while mature laparoscopic operations can already produce excellent results. Compare bleeding, complications, admission, recovery, long-term outcomes and cost for the same procedure.
How much does paediatric robotic hernia surgery cost in Taiwan?
In the current paediatric hernia context, standard surgery without self-paid materials is generally covered by Taiwan NHI, while a robotic approach is usually fully self-paid and commonly estimated at about TWD 120,000 to 200,000. The actual amount varies by condition, materials and hospital billing; request a written estimate for the proposed operation.
Reference
Device clearance does not mean one method is superior for every disease or patient. Individual decisions require examination and current hospital cost information.
Paediatric and trauma surgeon. Last medically reviewed: 13 September 2026.