Cardiovascular Changes during Robot-Assisted Pelvic Surgery

Abstract

The application of robotic assistance in pelvic surgery has become popular across multiple specialties during the past decades, facilitating minimally invasive surgery. The most remarkable challenges regarding these procedures are the carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum and steep Trendelenburg position. The combination of two factors affects the patient additionally or synergistically and have important physiological effects on cardiovascular system. All those changes are usually well tolerated in patients with normal cardiac function, but it can be different in elderly patients or even in patients with underlying heart conditions. In order to provide the proper management of patients undergone the robotic surgery, we aim to thoroughly understand these effects and overview the risks and possible related cardiovascular complications. Further, a short introduction on dangerous areas of robot-assisted pelvic surgery will be briefly reviewed.