Robot assisted surgery has been revolutionizing the medical field, offering precision, minimally invasive procedures, and improved patient outcomes.
What makes robotic assisted surgery special? First, the robotic arm’s range of motion is over 360°. That means it allows you to rotate and reach tight places in ways not possible for laparoscopic instruments or even human hands. This along with a high definition camera giving 10 times zoom allows you to replicate your open surgical skills in a more precise and refined fashion.
The ultimate goal is to achieve minimal blood loss during surgery with optimum cancer clearance. This also translates into a better postoperative outcome as the patient experiences minimal postoperative pain. This means less analgesic use which is even more relevant for elderly people. The patient, in fact can even start walking the next day and can be discharged in fewer days. Less hospital stay means less chance of hospital acquired infection and overall less hospital expenses. This is even true for patients who are undergoing major gastrointestinal (colon, rectum, stomach), liver or pancreas cancer surgery.
Earlier patients undergoing conventional open surgery would end up with a large incision, causing a lot of pain and discomfort in the immediate postoperative period. That means patients are bedridden for at least five to six days, making the prolonged hospital stay a painful one. These patients are even more prone to wound infection and more antibiotics usage. Robotic surgery has made this painful experience go away.
My personal opinion: Robot assisted surgeries will become the preferred option for the majority of abdominal and thoracic cancers in coming years. Its future potential is vast, and with ongoing advancements in technology and techniques, access to robotic surgery will become universal and more economical for the patients.
