Emergency Robotic Surgery for Acute Abdomen in the Elderly

Emergency surgical procedures in elderly patients have been very rarely described in the literature. Main limitations to the use of robotics in the emergency setting are the elevated cost of the platform and the need for an adequate training for the entire surgical team, together with anaesthesiologists and operative room nurses. In the specific population of elderly patients, the longer operative time often associated with the robotic approach is a source of concern. However, feasibility of robotic emergency surgery has been described, as well as benefits of robotic approach in the elderly population. This chapter summarises actual literature evidence and suggests indications for the applications of robotic surgery in the acute setting in elderly patients.