Will there ever be a place for robotic vascular surgery in the United Kingdom?

Robotic surgery is now widespread among urological, general surgical and gynaecological centres, but remains poorly-established in UK vascular surgery.1,2 Despite the recognized benefits of enhanced operative precision and growing evidence of favourable outcomes in robotic-assisted abdominal procedures, open or endovascular techniques remain the standard in the UK.3,4 An increasingly old and comorbid UK population means that the need for precise, safe and uncomplicated vascular surgery has never been greater, with robotic surgery offering demonstrable promise in at least some of these domains.5 However, technical limitations, National Health Service (NHS) sustainability targets, funding crises, and historically-high waiting lists for treatment all create potential barriers to the adoption of this still relatively novel technology among UK vascular centres. This review explores why robotic surgery is likely to continue struggling to gain a foothold in UK vascular care, despite potential benefits.