The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our world and impacted multiple layers of our society. All frontline workers and in particular those in direct contact with patients have been exposed to major risk. To mitigate pathogen spread and protect healthcare workers and patients, medical services have been largely restricted, including cancellation of elective surgeries, which has posed a substantial burden for patients and immense economic loss for various hospitals. The integration of a robot as a shielding layer, physically separating the healthcare worker and patient, is a powerful tool to combat the omnipresent fear of pathogen contamination and maintain surgical volumes. In this Perspective, we outline detailed scenarios in the pre-, intra- and postoperative care, in which the use of robots and artificial intelligence can mitigate infectious contamination and aid patient management in the surgical environment during times of immense patient influx. We also discuss cost-effectiveness and benefits of surgical robotic systems beyond their use in pandemics. The current pandemic creates unprecedented demands for hospitals. Digitization and machine intelligence are gaining significance in healthcare to combat the virus. Their legacy may well outlast the pandemic and revolutionize surgical performance and management.

COVID-19大流行改变了我们的世界，并影响了我们社会的多个层面。所有一线工人，特别是与患者直接接触的工人都面临重大风险。为了减轻病原体的传播并保护医护人员和患者，医疗服务受到很大限制，包括取消择期手术，这给患者带来了沉重负担，并给各家医院带来了巨大的经济损失。集成机器人作为屏蔽层，物理上将医护人员和患者分隔开来，是一种强大的工具，可以消除对病原体污染的普遍恐惧并保持手术量。在此观点中，我们概述了术前，术中和术后护理的详细情况，其中使用机器人和人工智能可以减轻传染性污染，并在大量患者涌入期间在手术环境中帮助患者管理。我们还将讨论外科机器人系统在大流行中的应用之外的成本效益和收益。当前的大流行给医院带来了前所未有的需求。数字化和机器智能在对抗病毒的医疗保健中正变得越来越重要。他们的遗产可能比流行病更持久，并彻底改变外科手术的性能和管理。数字化和机器智能在对抗病毒的医疗保健中正变得越来越重要。他们的遗产可能比流行病更持久，并彻底改变外科手术的性能和管理。数字化和机器智能在对抗病毒的医疗保健中正变得越来越重要。他们的遗产可能比流行病更持久，并彻底改变外科手术的性能和管理。