I feel particularly privileged to have access to the new da Vinci 5 in both hospitals where I perform robotic surgery in Madrid (there are only 5 devices in the country right now).
So, what was my first clinical impression? Oddly enough, it took me back almost a decade. “Transoral” has disappeared from the touchscreen menu. It may sound like a minor interface detail, but for those of us who have been performing TORS since the early days, seeing the dedicated transoral setup was a milestone (even though I have always preferred the manual configuration over the guided one). Technically, there is no reason why the da Vinci 5 should not be used for TORS, as the platform is conceptually very similar to the previous generation (we should discuss regulatory issues in another post).
da Vinci 5 is conceptually very similar to the previous generation… but a technological step forward
That said, once you start operating, it becomes obvious that the da Vinci 5 is a significant technological step forward. The software feels dramatically more mature. Navigation is smoother, the interface is cleaner, and the overall user experience is far more polished than with the Xi. The new cloud ecosystem is another leap forward: cloud-based recording, streamlined case management, and remote support represent the beginning of a new era in documenting, reviewing, and sharing robotic surgery.
But there is still more to come.
I have already completed every available force-feedback simulator exercise, and the technology is genuinely impressive. However, the force-feedback instruments are not yet available, so perhaps the feature many of us are most excited about is still just around the corner.
And yes… I still find myself missing the Single Port platform (even though it is from the previous, fourth, generation). We’ve discussed the reasons before.
At the same time, it is impossible to ignore how quickly the robotic surgery landscape is evolving. While we are beginning our clinical experience with the da Vinci 5, new platforms are rapidly finding their place in our operating rooms. There are da Vinci surgical systems in almost every hospital in the country, Vall d’Hebron has started the clinical use of the Shurui single port system, Bellvitge has incorporated the Symani platform for supermicrosurgery, Fundación Jiménez Díaz is evaluating Toumai, also present in HM Sanchinarro, and more technologies are on the horizon.
Competition drives innovation. Innovation should drive better surgery. And better surgery should translate into better outcomes for our patients. After all, that is what this is about: Tech Improving Outcomes.
J Granell. Jun 30, 2026