Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42831998›Full record

ReviewJournal of robotic surgery2026

Medical liability in paediatric robotic surgery - a current concept and a literature review.

Ciro Esposito, Anna Gargiulo, Claudia Di Mento, Marco Castagnetti, Vincenzo Coppola, Francesco Tedesco, Roberta Guglielmini, Maria Luisa Pirone, Chiara Caporale, Maria Escolino

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of robotic surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Ciro EspositoPediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. ciroespo@unina.it.
Anna GargiuloForensic Medicine Department, Naples 3 South Local Health Authority, Naples, Italy.
Claudia Di MentoPediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-3760-1714
Marco CastagnettiPediatric Urology, Bambino Gesù Children Hospital, Rome, Italy.
Vincenzo CoppolaPediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Francesco TedescoPediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Roberta GuglielminiPediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Maria Luisa PironePediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Chiara CaporalePediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Maria EscolinoPediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Robotic-assisted surgery offers significant technical advantages in pediatric procedures but presents complex, unresolved medico-legal challenges regarding liability. We retrospectively reviewed our ten-year experience comprising 205 pediatric robotic procedures. Technical issues related to the robot were encountered in 7 cases (3.4%). These included joystick latency (3/7), coagulation/cutting pedal malfunctions (2/7), and accidental power cable disconnections causing system shutdowns (2/7). A literature review was conducted to assess the current international state of the art regarding robotic medical liability. Although the technical events at our center did not result in clinical complications, they highlighted significant potential risks. The literature shows that specific guidelines governing human, product, and algorithm-related liability are still lacking. Robotic surgery shifts the focus from an exclusively fault-based liability of the surgeon to a network-based system involving multiple stakeholders: the surgeon, the healthcare institution, and the manufacturer. Determining whether an adverse event stems from human error, algorithmic malfunction, or a combination of both remains a critical challenge. Unlike open or laparoscopic surgery where liability is primarily attributed to the operator, robotic surgery involves a complex interaction between the surgeon's console inputs and the manufacturer's technology. Consequently, from a medico-legal standpoint, responsibility for complications should be shared among the surgeon, the hospital, and the device manufacturer.

Indexed as

Liability, LegalPediatricsRobotic Surgical ProceduresChildEquipment FailureHumansRetrospective StudiesComplicationEquipment failureMedical liabilityPediatric surgeryRobotic surgery

Identifiers

PMID42831998
PMCPMC13638718

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.