What is a Robotic Surgery?
In a robotic surgery, the surgeon makes ‘keyhole’ cuts in the body, in order to insert robotic instruments and a three-dimensional camera. The surgeon then sits on the console, a little away from operating table, and on this console, he operates various controls, and accordingly, the instruments in the body moves with utmost precision to perform the whole surgery. It is important to underscore that the whole surgery is done under the direction of the surgeon, and not independently by the robot. It is akin to driving a car, where the driver
controls all the movements of the car.
Advantages of Robotic Surgeries
Robotic instruments are very fine, and they have greater degree of freedom of movement and better dexterity compared to humans. The camera has a very high magnification, which gives a very clear picture of the operating field which helps minimise errors in the surgery, and therefore, there are fewer complications.
Since there are very small cuts there is less pain, smaller scars, faster recovery and hardly any pain in the postoperative period for the patient. Such surgeries also help reduce the length of stay in hospital, minimise ICU stays and call for fewer antibiotics, as the risk of infection is reduced. This means patients can recover and return to work or their regular activities much earlier than in conventional surgeries.
Role of Robotic Surgery
Gynae-oncology: A meta-analysis of robotic surgery in endometrial cancers, compared with laparoscopy and laparotomy showed that robotic surgery had less estimated blood loss and thereby less blood transfusions were needed, there were lesser intraoperative complications and there was lesser conversion to open surgery. Likewise, robotic surgery has an important role to play in various other benign gynaecology conditions.
Colorectal surgery: Robotic surgery is especially helpful in rectal cancers, more so in low rectal cancers where access is very difficult. It is very helpful in performing sphincter-saving procedures which help reduce the chances of permanent colostomies in low rectal cancers, and also urogenital dysfunction caused due to damage to the pelvic nerves. It also has increased benefits in obese male patients who have a narrow pelvis.
Dr. Vishnu Agrawal article in The Hindu
