INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE
Review Article
May 12, 2026 3 2

Advancements in Minimally Invasive Surgery: From Laparoscopy to Robotic Precision

Peter Aduvie Josiah 1 * ,
Chinedu Nwosu-Ijiomah 2,
Ndidi Atasie Eboh 3
1 Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Health Sciences, Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, Nigeria2 Department of Health Informatics, School of Computing, University of West London, UK3 Department of Nursing Science, Stark State College, North Canton, OH, USA* Corresponding Author
International Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, 1(1), 2026, jebm002
Publication date: May 12, 2026
Full Text (PDF)

ABSTRACT

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has become a dominant surgical paradigm over the last two decades due to its benefits such as less tissue trauma and shorter convalescence for patients. This narrative review presents the progress in MIS from conventional laparoscopic to robotic surgical interventions, highlighting advancements in technology, clinical and educational applications. Early advances in fiber-optic imaging, video-laparoscopy, and creation of corresponding surgical instruments enabled the transition from a purely diagnostic to therapeutic MIS approach and facilitated surgical innovation among many specialties. However, conventional laparoscopy is constrained by several factors, including rigidity of surgical instruments, two-dimensional imaging, and surgical ergonomics.
Recent advances in robotic-assisted surgery have sought to address several of these limitations by providing surgeons with greater dexterity, tremor filtering, motion scaling, improved three-dimensional visualization and enhanced intra-abdominal working space. Early clinical results are promising with evidence suggesting reduced postoperative morbidity in selected complex procedures, although outcomes for robotic and conventional laparoscopic approaches remain comparable for many standard operations. Moreover, MIS is influencing surgical training through the use of surgical simulation models, structured credentialing and performance-based skill assessments.
Although much has been achieved with MIS, there are barriers to its widespread adoption, namely cost and access in less well-resourced surgical environments, as well as concerns relating to equity, accountability and informed patient consent. Moving forward, incorporating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality and semi-autonomous systems will be pivotal to optimizing MIS. The future of MIS lies in the provision of personalized surgical care as part of an overall vision for precision surgery.

KEYWORDS

Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) Laparoscopy Robotic-Assisted Surgery Surgical Simulation Precision Surgery

CITATION (Vancouver)

Josiah PA, Nwosu-Ijiomah C, Eboh NA. Advancements in Minimally Invasive Surgery: From Laparoscopy to Robotic Precision. International Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine. 2026;1(1):jebm002.
APA
Josiah, P. A., Nwosu-Ijiomah, C., & Eboh, N. A. (2026). Advancements in Minimally Invasive Surgery: From Laparoscopy to Robotic Precision. International Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, 1(1), jebm002.
Harvard
Josiah, P. A., Nwosu-Ijiomah, C., and Eboh, N. A. (2026). Advancements in Minimally Invasive Surgery: From Laparoscopy to Robotic Precision. International Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, 1(1), jebm002.
AMA
Josiah PA, Nwosu-Ijiomah C, Eboh NA. Advancements in Minimally Invasive Surgery: From Laparoscopy to Robotic Precision. International Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine. 2026;1(1), jebm002.
Chicago
Josiah, Peter Aduvie, Chinedu Nwosu-Ijiomah, and Ndidi Atasie Eboh. "Advancements in Minimally Invasive Surgery: From Laparoscopy to Robotic Precision". International Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine 2026 1 no. 1 (2026): jebm002.
MLA
Josiah, Peter Aduvie et al. "Advancements in Minimally Invasive Surgery: From Laparoscopy to Robotic Precision". International Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, vol. 1, no. 1, 2026, jebm002.

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