Scientometric analysis of global research output in robotic gynecologic surgery

Study objective: There has been a surge in publications on robotic gynecologic surgery. This study determined the characteristics and trends of published articles in robotic gynecologic surgery using bibliometric analysis, and also identified socioeconomic indicators associated with scientific productivity in this field. Methods: The Scopus database was used to retrieve articles related to robotic gynecologic surgery from 2001 until 2021. Analyses and network visualization were conducted using Bibliometrix package in R platform, VOSviewer software, and GraphPad Prism software. Main results: A total of 642 articles spanning from 2001 to 2021 were published, with exponential increase starting in 2007. The most productive country in this field is the USA, while the most productive institution is the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology produced the most significant number of research articles, while Gynecologic Oncology received the highest total citations. The central themes of research from 2001 to 2009 include the keywords “radical hysterectomy” and “laparoscopy” while from 2010 to 2021, the keywords include “robotic surgery” and “cervical cancer”. Gross domestic product and the number of international collaborations had the highest correlation with scientific productivity in robotic gynecologic surgery. Conclusion: This study showed the research landscape – the leading authors, institutions, and countries – in robotic gynecologic surgery. The top institutions and countries in this field were from developed countries. This study emphasizes more investment in research, support for researchers and physicians, and foster more collaborations with leading countries and institutions, all to improve clinical care for gynecologic patients globally.