Innovations in Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) in Urology

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to submit your original research, review, systematic review, and meta-analysis articles to a Special Issue of the Journal of Clinical Medicine focusing on “Innovations in Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) in Urology”. This Special Issue aims to highlight the latest advancements, explore emerging technologies, and discuss future directions in the field of MIS.

Current State of Affairs in MIS in Urology

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has significantly transformed urological practice by lowering postoperative pain, resulting in shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery times, reducing the burden on our patients. The field has experienced rapid growth, driven by innovations in artificial intelligence (AI), the metaverse, robotics, device miniaturization, and automation. These technological advancements are reshaping the way we approach and perform urological surgeries, enhancing precision, safety, and patient outcomes.

Innovations and Future Directions

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI is revolutionizing MIS through enhanced diagnostic accuracy, predictive analytics, and optimized surgical planning. Machine learning algorithms process vast datasets, improving decision-making and enabling personalized treatment approaches.
2. Metaverse and Virtual Reality (VR): The integration of the metaverse and VR into surgical training and preoperative planning is providing unprecedented opportunities for skill development and procedural training, reducing errors, and improving surgical outcomes.
3. Robotics: Robotic-assisted surgeries are now a mainstay in urology, offering superior precision, flexibility, and control. Recent advancements in robotic technology provide improved ergonomics and haptic feedback, allowing surgeons to perform complex procedures with greater ease.
4. Device Miniaturization: The miniaturization of surgical instruments and endoscopic devices is facilitating less invasive procedures with minimal tissue disruption, leading to faster recovery times and better patient outcomes.
5. Automation: Automation is streamlining surgical workflows, enhancing efficiency, and reducing the cognitive load on surgeons. Automated systems assist with tasks such as suturing, tissue manipulation, and instrument handling, improving procedural consistency and outcomes.
6. Telesurgery: Telesurgery is extending the reach of expert surgeons, allowing them to perform operations remotely. This innovation is particularly beneficial for providing high-quality care to patients in underserved or remote areas.

Purpose and Welcomed Topics

This Special Issue seeks to compile cutting-edge research and comprehensive reviews on the aforementioned innovations and their impact on MIS in urology. We welcome submissions on a variety of topics, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. AI applications in urological diagnostics and surgery;
2. The role of VR and the metaverse in surgical training and planning;
3. Innovations in robotic-assisted urological procedures;
4. Advances in endoscopic technologies and instrumentation;
5. Automation and its impact on surgical workflows;
6. Patient outcomes and experiences with MIS;
7. Future trends and challenges in MIS;
8. Ethical and regulatory considerations in adopting new technologies;
9. Telesurgery and its applications in urology.

We invite you to share your valuable insights and contribute to this Special Issue. Please submit your manuscripts by the Special Issue Deadline.

We look forward to your participation in a compelling collection of articles that will advance the field of MIS in urology.

Sincerely,

Dr. Octavian Sabin Tataru
Dr. Roberto Bianchi
Dr. Giuseppe Fallara
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• minimally invasive surgery
• artificial intelligence
• laparoscopy
• robotics
• virtual reality
• miniaturization
• automation