Yonsei University said it has been recognized as the world's most prolific institution in publishing research papers on robotic surgery.

The Journal of Robotic Surgery recently reported that Yonsei University has published 196 research papers on robotic surgery over the past decade, making it the leading institution globally in this field.

The study analyzed 9,432 robotic surgery-related papers indexed in the Web of Science database between 2014 and 2023, measuring the number of citations and overall academic impact. Yonsei University’s research was cited 3,635 times, placing it among the top-ranked institutions.

“Severance Hospital at Yonsei University Health System has been at the forefront of clinical excellence, marking 40,000 robotic surgeries as a single institution in 2023,” Severance Hospital Robot and MIS (Minimally Invasive Surgery) Center Director Professor Ham Won-sik said. “This success in clinical performance naturally leads to outstanding research achievements, creating a virtuous cycle.”

Yonsei University Health System has been a pioneer in robotic surgery since performing Korea’s first robotic procedure at Severance Hospital in 2005. To date, the institution has conducted 55,047 robotic surgeries across its affiliated hospitals in Sinchon, Gangnam, and Yongin, utilizing a total of 15 surgical robots.

The technology has been applied in various medical departments, including urology, thyroid and endocrine surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, otolaryngology, colorectal surgery, gynecology, hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, thoracic surgery, and breast surgery.

Yonsei University has also played a key role in advancing robotic surgery techniques. The thyroid and endocrine surgery department has developed a new method using the da Vinci SP (Single Port) robotic system, which consolidates four robotic arms into a single port, minimizing incision length and allowing for a more aesthetically favorable procedure through the natural folds of the armpit, and the otolaryngology department has introduced a transoral robotic surgery technique to treat laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers.

Building on these advancements, Yonsei University Health System (YUHS) established Korea’s first Robotic Surgery Training Center at Severance Hospital in 2008, training both Korean and international medical professionals. In 2021, the institution was also designated as the world’s first SP Robotic Surgery Specialist Training Center by Intuitive, the leading global manufacturer of robotic surgical systems.