Is there a robot in your operating room? The chances are good that there probably is.Robotic surgery first came on the market in 2000 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci Surgical System for use in laparoscopic, or minimally invasive, procedures.That marked the first time a robotic surgery system was allowed in U.S. operating rooms. But in the years since, the use of robotic systems for laparoscopic and traditional open surgeries has become more common.
How It Works
There are three types of robotic surgery systems used in the nation: supervisory-controlled systems, telesurgical systems and shared-controlled systems.In a procedure using a telesurgical device, such as the da Vinci Surgical System, the surgeon makes several very small incisions to allow the insertion of camera- or instrument-equipped metal rods, which are operated by the system’s robotic arms. The surgeon performs the surgery from a 3-D console in the operating room using joystick-like controls.
The newest generation da Vinci S HD Surgical System is offered at the Palomar Medical Center, according to the medical center’s website. “Our surgical team is specially trained in gynecologic and urologic robotic surgery and has collectively performed nearly 1,000 procedures using this advanced technology,” the website states.Supervisory-controlled systems are considered the most automated, but require extensive preparation before use in the operating room. Surgeons take images of the patient’s body, program the robot to carry out a specific surgical procedure, and position both robot and patient before surgery.With a shared-control robotic surgical system, the surgeon operates the surgical instruments, while the robotic assistant monitors and guides the surgeon’s performance. Safe, close, boundary or forbidden zones are programmed for each surgery and the robot provides feedback to let surgeons know when they’re getting too close to a problem area.
Benefits of Robotic Surgery
Robotic surgery offers a number of benefits, including greater precision, smaller incisions, less pain and scarring, and a reduced risk of infection. It also allows for shorter hospital stays and faster recovery.
“Surgeons use robotic tools to operate in hard-to-reach locations within the body and for making precise, minimally-invasive incisions that provide a safe alternative to open surgery,” according to the VA San Diego Healthcare System’s “Knowing Your Healthcare System: Robotic Surgery.” “When compared to open (non-robotic) surgeries, robotic surgery generally resulted in less pain, less blood loss and less transfusions.”
Robot-Assisted Procedures
A robotic surgical system lends itself to a number of both standard and complex medical procedures. In the North County San Diego area, robotic surgical systems are being used in urological, gynecological, colorectal and spinal procedures.
“Surgical treatment of the spine requires planning and precision, and each patient’s anatomy has unique challenges,” according to the Orthopaedic Specialists of North County website. “(Robotic surgery) provides increased safety and precision for a wide variety of spine procedures… Scientific validation shows that in thousands of procedures — with over 15,000 spine implants — there were no cases of permanent nerve damage.”
Are Robotics the Future of Surgical Medicine in U.S.?
Source:Megan Mattingly-Arthur.www.utsandiego.com
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Anonymous says
With several notable exceptions this is a triumph of technology over reason and very expensive technology at that.