Preserving Health, Embracing Technology: The Safety of Robotic Surgery Unveiled

Robotic or robot-assisted surgery is a way to perform surgery using a camera arm and mechanical arms with very small tools attached to them. The surgeon sits at a computer station near the operating table and directs the movements of a robotic arm. A thin tube with a camera attached to the end of it allows the surgeon to view enlarged, high-definition, magnified 3-D images of your body as the surgery is taking place. The instruments respond to the movements and translate them into real-time movements inside the body.

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More Precise Than A Human

The arm is able to make the same small cuts to insert the instruments into your body, as would a regular surgeon. In fact, robotic devices are said to have greater dexterity and range of motion than a human. This allows your surgeon to successfully perform delicate surgeries in hard-to-reach places.

This way of surgery has been gaining popularity although the extent to which it is used varies widely. Its use depends on a variety of factors such as physician training, equipment availability, and even cultural factors. What are people most comfortable doing and what other surgeons in the area do it? The question from patients is always "How safe is it?" Experts say robotic surgery allows doctors to perform many types of complex procedures with more precision, flexibility, and control than is possible with conventional techniques.

Robotic surgery is usually associated with minimally invasive, or laparoscopic, surgery, which are procedures performed through tiny incisions. It is also used in certain traditional open-surgical procedures as well. This type of surgery may be used for a number of different procedures including coronary artery bypass, hip replacements, hysterectomy, kidney removal or transplant, and tubal ligation.

The Benefits

Surgeons who have used this method say the benefits of especially minimally invasive surgery include fewer complications such as surgical site infection, less pain and blood loss, quicker recovery, and smaller, less noticeable scars. In fact, they say once the robotic arm is placed in the abdomen, it is easier for the surgeon to use the surgical tools than with laparoscopic surgery through an endoscope. This means the surgeon can also see the area where the surgery is performed more easily.

The Risks

Doctors insist that some risks of robotic surgery are similar to those of conventional open surgery, such as the possibility of infection and other complications. Robotic surgery can also take longer to perform. Medical professionals say this is due to the amount of time needed to set up the robot.

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Not for Everyone

Doctors often tell patients that robotic surgery is not an option for everyone. They suggest talking with a number of medical professionals about the benefits and risks and how it compares with other techniques such as other types of minimally invasive surgery and conventional open surgery.