What is Robotic Surgery and How Does it Work?
Advances in technology have paved a huge role in innovations in medicine and health care delivery. Robotic assisted surgery, or Robotic surgery, is one such in the field of surgery. Like any novel revolutionary technique, it has withstood the test of time and the critics of the orthodox surgeons to establish itself as the current and future of surgical care.
What is Robotic Surgery?
Robotic surgery is a tool that integrates advanced computer technology to perform complex surgeries with more precision, flexibility and control than conventional laparoscopic procedures. This technology provides the surgeon with a 10x magnified, high-definition, 3D-image of the body’s intricate anatomy. It is also equipped with articulated arms with better dexterity and better freedom of movement.
How does Robotic Surgery work?
The surgeon, most of the time, makes small incisions over the body to insert the robotic arms equipped with articulated instruments and camera. The surgeon master controls these instruments from the console which translates his movements at the console to precise movements inside the body. The surgeon is in control of the surgery the entire time, the machine only follows the command of the surgeon.
What are the advantages of Robotic Surgery?
- Your surgeon has greater range of motion and dexterity
- Your surgeon sees a highly-magnified, high-resolution image of the operating field
- Your surgeon has better access to the area being operated on
- Shorter hospital stay
- Less risk of infection
- Less blood loss and fewer blood transfusions
- Less pain
- Faster recovery
- Quicker return to daily routine
What cancers can be treated with robotic surgery?
- Colon and rectal cancers
- Gynaecological cancers
- Prostate cancers
- Kidney cancers
- Stomach cancers
- Esophageal cancers
- Oropharyngeal cancers
- Lung cancers
- Thymic neoplasms
- Thyroid tumors
The rate of robotic surgeries for treating cancers is increasing by 25% annually. This is fairly progressive way of treating cancer and I highly recommend people to start embracing it and move towards a less painful way of surgery.