In the last years, minimally invasive surgery has gained more and more ground in surgery. It has helped in reducing patients’ scarring, morbidity, post-operative pain and hospitalization time [1, 2]. It has been demonstrated by different studies that gynecologic procedures performed by endoscopic approaches have similar or improved outcomes when compared to laparotomic approaches [3, 4]. Moreover, in the last decade, there has been an urge to develop new surgical systems with the aim to be less invasive than with standard laparoscopy. In this field, new techniques that employ laparoendoscopic single-port surgery (LESS) instruments were born [5]. LESS can be considered as a less invasive alternative to multiport laparoscopy. It comprehends a variety of surgical procedures that can be performed with one single surgical incision into which all instruments are inserted through one port. Single-port surgery provides better cosmetic outcomes and improved patient satisfaction. Moreover, even if LESS approach requires a revision of the surgical technique and may be challenging to adopt, its efficacy and safety in gynecologic surgery seems to be comparable to traditional laparoscopy [6], even if the surgical time seems to be prolonged. LESS presents some technical difficulties, such as limited movement of instruments, internal and external clashing between instruments, reduced ability to triangulate, ergonomic discomfort and poor visualization [7, 8]. Robot surgical systems with optimized ergonomics can compensate for these limitations by improving visualization. Since 2009, robotic single site surgery using the da Vinci${}^{\mathrm{\circledR }}$ Si or Xi system (Intuitive Surgical Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA) has been introduced into urological surgery [9]. Elsewhere, it was incorporated into gynecologic field since 2010 [10] and then it has been applied to a wide range of gynecological procedures for both benign and malignant indications [11, 12]. Furthermore, some studies showed that robotic single site surgery is safe, and it has similar outcomes in terms of operative time, complications, and post-operative pain, when compared to traditional robotic surgery [13, 14]. However, this platform has no EndoWrist technology and consequently some drawbacks were reported. These were mainly the clashing of the instruments with some limitations during the surgery [15]. The SP1098 da Vinci SP (Single-Port) Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) is the last technologic development in single port surgery, and it presents innovative characteristics that lead to better surgical performance. In 2019, the da Vinci SP1098 was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for urology and otolaryngology. Currently, few groups have published their experience and results with this system in gynecology. The aim of the present review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the status and applications of da Vinci SP in gynecologic surgery.

The present review provides a summary of the available studies on single-port robotic surgery using da Vinci SP1098 system in gynecologic field. Robotic single site surgery was introduced in order to combine the advantages of LESS and robotic surgery. However, instruments clashing, and the unfavorable ergonomics of robotic single site surgery can be an issue for the surgeon [23]. Robotic single site surgery is characterized by several advantages compared to conventional LESS: better triangulation at the surgical site and improved ergonomics during surgery. In addition, the robotic platform provides three-dimensional visualization, a stable camera platform, fine movement, and tremor control [20, 21, 22]. Reducing number of ancillary trocars should decrease port site complications, such as herniation of the small bowel and obstruction through the 8 mm robotic port sites. However, robotic single site surgery still presents some drawbacks, that are mainly the collision and clashing of instruments [24]. The da Vinci SP1098 platform is the last technologic development in single port surgery, and it presents innovative characteristics that overcome the limitations above-mentioned and expand the range of surgical applications. Indeed, this platform offers to the surgeon similar functionality as the da Vinci multiport platform, with the exception that 3 multiarticular wrist instruments and a hree dimensional high resolution (3D-HD) articulated scope are introduced through a single port. This technology permits distal triangulation of the instrument, excellent internal and external range of movement and 360${}^{\circ }$ access to multiple quadrants through a unique 2.5 cm skin incision [7, 25, 26] The da Vinci SP1098 system uses the same console of the da Vinci X and Xi systems. This console is already well known by many gynecologic sugeons, and this allows an easy transition to the da Vinci SP [25]. This system increases dexterity and range of motion, camera mobility and intracorporeal instrument triangulation [21], maintaining benefits of robotic single site surgery, i.e., a single scar with better cosmetic result and the potential for decreased pain. Even if our systematic review is based on a limited number of preliminary results, it suggests the technical feasibility of da Vinci SP1098 system in gynecologic surgery. Moreover, the available literature suggests that standard robotic and LESS skills are highly transferrable to the robotic single-port platform. According to these data, there was no conversion to alternative surgical modality and there were no complications related to SP1098 platform.

In our review, we analyzed five retrospective studies and only one prospective report. Lee et al. [18] conducted a prospective observational pilot study to evaluate the robotic-single port myomectomy using da Vinci SP platform. In our systematic review, the surgeries incorporated were heterogeneous with mean/median operating time from 86.5 to 245 min, so it was difficult to directly compare them with surgeries performed with different approaches. According to our review, the most commonly perfomed surgery with da Vinci SP1098 was myomectomy. Only in a few cases da Vinci SP1098 was used to treat oncological cases.

The only study that compares da Vinci SP1098 to other robotic platforms is the manuscript of Lee et al. [19]. They compared 40 cases of single site robotic sacrocolpopexy, using the da Vinci Xi or Si system, with 8 cases of sacrocolpopexy, using da Vinci SP. There were no differences in the mean operative time and in the console time between the two groups (135.3 $\pm$ 31.6 min vs. 141.8 $\pm$ 23.5 min; 94.6 $\pm$ 32.2 min vs. 89 $\pm$ 9.5 min, respectively). while the docking time and cervix suturing time were shorter in the da Vinci SP group (p 0.05). However, after analyzing the initial 8 cases in each of the two groups, all surgical times except the cervix suturing time were shorter in the da Vinci SP group (p 0.05) [19]. The docking time was decreased because placing a single multichannel robotic port reduced the port placement and docking time in comparison with deploying multi-arms Si and Xi robotic platforms [22]. Although a slightly larger skin incision of 2.7 cm was made in the SP group for the insertion of metallic trocar, there was no case of incisional hernia. Instead, there were two cases of incisional hernia in the single site group, but both patients were obese [19] and obesity is a well known risk factor for incisional hernia [26]. Kwak et al. [8] reported that the umbilical wound following single-port robotic surgery appeared similar to what they have observed for single-port laparoscopic surgery, although the incision was bigger (2.5 cm vs. 1.5 cm). Risk of incisional hernia might potentially be higher in patients that underwent single port tobotic surgeries because of the larger fascial incision that is required for the port placement. However, data from the available literature do not show a higher incisional hernia risk in patients that underwent single port surgery compared to patients that underwent standard laparoscopy. In particular, the incidence of incisional hernia after single port laparoscopy ranges from 1.4% [27] to 7.2% [28]. However, it is important to note that the true incidence of incisional hernias remains largely unknown because most patients are asymptomatic and therefore do not seek medical evaluation. Moreover, no large data are available in the literature regarding the incidence of incisional hernia after robotic single site surgery. In our review, we recorded only one case of minor postoperative wound complication but no case of incisional hernia was reported. Perhaps, the short follow up did not allow this complication to be diagnosed.

Concerning the limitations of the SP1098 platform compared to the multiport robotic platform, as highlighted by Ganesan et al. [20], they are the limited surgical field (about 10–25 cm from the port), and restriction of possible movements when all the instruments are deployed. Other drawbacks are that the right angle produced by the elbow joint requires more workspace than the straight instruments, and this could be an obstacle when operating on large-sized uteri. Moreover, although an ancillary trocar can be used for procedures such as suctioning and irrigation, there is still difficulty with the movements of the assistant [22]. Most recently, a new single-port entry system, designed only for da Vinci SP1098, was introduced: the Uni-Port. It has four entry ports of different sizes that can accommodate one da Vinci SP cannula, one 10–15 mm-sized laparoscopic instrument, and two 5 mm-sized laparoscopic instruments at the same time [8].

The main limit of our review is that the data available in the literature are limited and they consist mainly of pilot studies, case series and case reports with a small number of cases and with a short follow-up. Moreover, only one comparative study has been conducted in gynecological surgery and no randomized control studies are present in the literature. Although a small number of cases were included in this review, the heterogenous patients’ characteristics and miscellaneous surgeries performed are reflective of high-volume gynecology practices. Randomized prospective studies that compare da Vinci SP1098 system with conventional LESS or robotic multi-port surgeries are needed to evaluate the possible benefits of this innovative platform. Additional studies examining postoperative outcomes, surgical costs and prospective studies comparing this modality to traditional robotic surgery are needed.

The preliminary and limited data available in the literature on the use of da Vinci SP Surgical System (SP1098) seem to suggest its technical feasibility and safety for gynecologic surgery, with minimal alteration in surgical techniques.

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Conceptualization, MA and SC; methodology, GV; validation, AE, RG and LD; formal analysis, MA and SR; investigation, PR and GS; writing—original draft preparation, PR; writing—review and editing, SR and MA; supervision, GV. All authors contributed to editorial changes in the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. All authors have participated sufficiently in the work to take public responsibility for appropriate portions of the content and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to its accuracy or integrity.

Not applicable.

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This research received no external funding.

The authors declare no conflict of interest. Stefano Cianci is serving as one of the Editorial Board members and Guest editors of this journal. Roberta Granese are serving as one of the Editorial Board members of this journal. We declare that Stefano Cianci and Roberta Granese had no involvement in the peer review of this article and has no access to information regarding its peer review. Full responsibility for the editorial process for this article was delegated to Christos Iavazzo.