Emerging Trends in Robotic Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (RMBS)

Robotic metabolic and bariatric surgery (RMBS) is transforming the landscape of obesity treatment by combining the precision of advanced robotic systems with the well-established benefits of weight loss surgery. As this field evolves, a recent bibliometric analysis sheds light on the global research trends and growth trajectory of RMBS.

The study analyzed articles from the Web of Science database using keywords such as “robotic,” “metabolic,” and “bariatric surgery,” including all publications up to December 31, 2023. A total of 265 articles across 51 journals were reviewed using tools like Rayyan and R Studio’s bibliometric packages.

Key Insights from the Analysis:

• Rapid Growth: RMBS research has experienced a 21.96% annual growth rate from 2003 to 2023, averaging 12.6 publications per year, with a high correlation between publication year and output (R² = 0.94).
• Citations & Reach: The average number of citations per document was 13.25, with most journals (90%) falling into Zone 3 of Bradford’s classification, indicating room for greater journal imact.
• Collaboration Trends: Only 10.57% of publications involved international collaboration, mostly between institutions like the University of California and the University of Illinois.
• Geographic Leadership: The USA, China, and Switzerland led in terms of corresponding author contributions.

Conclusion:

Since its inception in 2003, RMBS research has shown promising growth but still trails behind traditional bariatric surgery studies in terms of volume, citation impact, and global collaboration. This indicates a significant opportunity for further innovation, research, and international partnerships in the robotic approach to metabolic and bariatric care.

Source:

Rivero-Moreno, Y., Corzo, M.P., Goyal, A. et al. Scientific production on robotic metabolic and bariatric surgery: a comprehensive bibliometric analysis on its current world status. J Robotic Surg. 2024;18(384).