In plain language
Pooling 11 mostly observational studies, robotic-assisted percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was linked to lower primary operator radiation dose and lower patient dose metrics, with longer procedures and similar technical success. Patient outcome benefits are uncertain. Doses for other cath lab staff were not reported.
At a glance
- Type of study
- Systematic review or meta-analysis, Meta-analysis
- Who was studied
- Interventional cardiologists, Patients
- Size
- n = 11 studies (2,950 patients)
- Topics
- Robotic and remote systemsDosimetry and monitoringPatient doseMusculoskeletal injury and ergonomics
- Summary based on
- the full text
What it found
Operator radiation exposure was lower with robotic-assisted PCI than manual PCI, though heterogeneity was high.
Key figures: MD = -29.97 µSv, 95% confidence interval (CI): -38.08 to -21.87, P < 0.00001; I² = 95%; 5 studies, 919 patients
Patient air kerma and dose-area product were lower with robotic PCI.
Key figures: Air kerma MD = -222.48 mGy (95% CI -284.15 to -160.82); dose-area product (DAP) MD = -78.02 dGy·cm² (95% CI -120.45 to -35.59)
Fluoroscopy time was shorter with robotic PCI.
Key figures: MD = -6.14 min, 95% CI: -9.41 to -2.88, P = 0.0002
Robotic PCI procedures took longer than manual PCI.
Key figures: MD = 10.53 min, 95% CI: 0.55-20.51; P = 0.04
Technical success was similar; major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and 12-month mortality were lower with robotic PCI but considered hypothesis-generating.
Key figures: Technical success odds ratio (OR) = 1.12 (0.68-1.85); MACE OR = 0.48 (0.24-0.93); mortality OR = 0.50 (0.27-0.94)
Limits to keep in mind
Ten of 11 studies were observational with limited sample sizes and high heterogeneity for operator dose, fluoroscopy time and duration; only five studies reported operator dose and lesion complexity was inconsistently reported.
Related research summaries
- Radiation Exposure, Training, and Safety in Cardiology (2024, Narrative review)
- Clinical Feasibility of Robotic-Assisted Endovascular Visceral Interventions (2026, Prospective cohort study)
- Robotics in percutaneous cardiovascular interventions (2017, Systematic review)
- Ionizing Radiation in Interventional Cardiology and Electrophysiology (2019, Narrative review)
- The impact of augmented reality on radiation exposure during spine surgery: a systematic review (2026, Systematic review)
How this summary was made
ORSIF prepared this summary with AI assistance from the full text of the paper. A program then checked that the passage supporting each finding appears word for word in that source. A person has not yet reviewed each summary, so read the original before relying on a number. ORSIF summarizes research and does not endorse any product or company. Report a problem with this summary.
Prepared November 3, 2026.