Robot Assisted Surgery Essay

Robots are used in everyday life. They are in cars, our houses, and many places we do not care to notice, as they have become a necessity for daily living. Advancements have been made, that allow for robots to be used in surgery. Robotic surgery is relatively new to the medical industry and it is often underrated. Robotic surgery offers greater efficiency, and utility than that provided through traditional surgical methods. The most traditional and common way of performing surgery is laparoscopically. This means the surgery is performed while looking through a small, camera inserted into the patient’s body. Though this technique is minimally invasive, it poses disadvantages, which can be overcome with the use of robotics in surgery.

Ben-Or, S., Nifong, W., & Chitwood, W. (2013). Robotic Surgical Training. The Cancer Journal, 19(2), 120-123.

The cost is reduced because now an inpatient stay and all that is bundled with the traditional surgery is no longer required as an outpatient visit. This further influenced a change in how facilities were built. The number of procedures being performed this way as increased. Previous open surgeries requiring long inpatient recovery times can now be performed laparoscopically. Therefore, the model of facility changed

Al). This includes the increase in dexterity, the restore of proper hand-eye coordination, and improvement of visualization (Meyers et al.). In Cameron Scott’s article from the Healthline News, “Is da Vinci Robotic Surgery a Revolution or a Ripoff?,” he states that robotic devices including the da Vinci surgical device succeeds well in urology and the removal of prostate. Prostate removal is extremely difficult for open surgery practice, however the da Vinci made is easier with about 90 percent of these kinds of surgeries are now done robotically (Scott). Some evidence even suggest that with robotics used in prostatectomy, there is less blood loss, faster recovery, and fewer internal scarring (Scott.). There are many other examples from hospitals and manufactures that support the uses of robotic surgery and its benefits. However, even though these new technologies of robotic devices are supposedly be helping patients and making surgeries less invasive, they are still many concerns of how they should be properly regulated.

Imagine a place where robots can not only decrease mistakes, but it can also save many lives during dangerous and high risk surgeries. I have had friends and family have these procedures done, and it was helpful and successful. Telerobotic surgeries are helpful, it prevents less to no mistakes, less deaths, and makes procedures easier.

One of the most important aspects to any new technique in healthcare is to develop enough information to decide if the benefits outweigh the risks. According to the Wall Street Journal, in 2000, there were only 1,000 robotic surgeries globally. That number increased to 360,000 in 2011 and 450,000 last year (Pinkerton, 2013). Almost all sources, including the da Vinci Surgical System website, have specified that for the patient, who receives robotic surgery, usually experiences less blood loss, a shorter hospital stay and less dependence on postoperative pain medication. There is also a benefit in cosmetics where there is no evidence of big scars since robotic surgery instruments enter through tiny incisions (da Vinci Surgical System, 2015). Benefits related to the surgeon include decreased back pain and greater range of motion and precision. This is because the procedures do not have the surgeons constantly bending over an operating table for however long the surgery would take. According to Becker (2012), the enhanced screen with 3D like image and three interactive robotic arms, all with the capability of achieving range of motion greater than the human

Robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy is a minimally invasive procedure to remove the entire prostate gland and the seminal vesicles. This procedure is done to treat prostate cancer that has not spread to other parts of the body (metastasized). The goal of the procedure is to remove all cancer cells and to prevent prostate cancer from metastasizing.

Minimally Invasive Surgery is also known as laparoscopic surgery. In MIS we are doing the same operation as in the open surgery with specialized robots like Davinci surgical robot. Which are inserted into the human body through several small incisions rather than a large incision. Minimally invasive surgery has many benefits over conventional open surgery. Because of the small size of incisions made in body compared to open surgery MIS shown following benefits. A shorter hospital stay, lesser blood loss, fewer complications, less need for narcotic pain medicine, a faster recovery, smaller incisions associated with minimal scarring. However compared to open surgery, MIS offers a big challenge to the surgeon. In MIS high level of hand-eye coordination is required, because of the movement of internal organs resulting from

A Massachusetts doctor estimated that the average American will undergo about 5.97 surgical procedures in the operating room in their lifetime, and with the population rising, surgeons in the United States will need to perform more surgeries than ever before (Lee). Since the beginning of modern medicine, new technology has been rapidly introduced to aid surgeons. In 1985, the first robotic surgery occurred, and at the turn of the 21st century, the FDA approved the da Vinci Surgical System (Whitlock). Patients today can undergo robotic-assisted surgery from the da Vinci Surgical System, but this type of surgery remains the center of controversy. Robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) is safe, ethical, and a good option for both patients and surgeons because it uses small incisions which decrease blood loss, it can improve recovery time and reduce complications, and it can improve surgical control.

Robot assisted surgeries are the surgical procedures that utilize a robotic system controlled by a physician or the surgeon himself via a computer. The robotic system has an attached camera to help the operator to see the organ being operated. These systems are known for their precision, accuracy, delicacy and efficient controlling options. Since their invention they have been used and are currently used in urological, neurological, endoscopic, cardiovascular and gynecological surgeries and operation. Robot assisted surgeries are in practice since 1990 after the approval of technology by Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Although the history of Robot assisted surgery dates back to 1985 when it was used for the first time.

Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery is a type of procedure that allows a surgeon to use robotic arms to control tools and a camera. Unlike traditional (open) surgery in which a large incision is made, this type of surgery uses a small incision (minimally-invasive surgery).

Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALRP) has become the most common approach to radical prostatectomy (RP) in the United States. With nearly 90% of radical prostatectomies being performed robotically some argue RALP has become the new standard of care 1,2. Robot assistance has been shown to reduce operative time compared with laparoscopic prostatectomy (LRP) and in general, it has liberated LRP for non–fellowship-trained urologists at non–high-volume centers 3,4. Several reports have attempted to characterize the ‘‘learning curve’’ associated with RALRP. Metrics used to characterize the RALRP learning curve have ranged from operative time and blood loss to positive surgical margin (PSM) rate. Learning curves have been reported to range from 30 to over 200 cases 5,6. Although a comprehensive learning curve for open radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) was recently delineated by a high-quality, multicenter study, a comprehensive RALRP-specific learning curve has not been clearly defined 7-9.

In 2001, the first case series of robot assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomies (RALPs) using the da Vinci operating system were reported. Since then its use has grown exponentially, much more so in the US than the UK. Some argue that aggressive marketing by manufacturers, operating preference by surgeons, and high demand from patients have all led the the rapid adaptation of RALP without the same degree of evidence, in terms of high quality randomised controlled trials, as would be expected from other medical interventions. This report will outline the development of robot assisted radical prostatectomy for the surgical management of localised prostate cancer and how it’s outcomes can be compared with other surgical approaches.

A laparoscopic approach appears to be associated with a reduction in surgical trauma and blood loss. In addition, it is presumable that some of the benefits of minimally invasive surgery such as reduced analgesic requirements, a shorter recovery period and reduced hospital stay (Kuhry, 2005). It has become a forerunner in the quest of improving surgical results by dropping postoperative pain and lessening recovery time. Yet, the use of laparoscopic instruments can be awkward and cumbersome, thus escalating operative time and dropping dexterity, which can

According to Mary Anne Dunkin’s article Surgery Goes Robotic, the invention of surgical robots was intended for military use only because it would provide a way for doctors to perform safe surgeries within the battlefield. The use of a surgical robot within the military would have allowed doctors to perform emergency surgeries within the battlefield (Childress). The only issue that was detected was the delay that occurs among signals. Unfortunately, “… it turned out that the delicateness of the robot would not lend itself to being out in the deserts of Iraq or the Sudan,” as Dr. Stubbs mentioned to Dunkin. Within Dunkin’s article, she mentions that even though the purpose of surgical robots was for military use only, “robotic technology could play a crucial role in surgeries performed in traditional operating rooms,”(Dunkin). About thirty years ago, the usage of robotics in medical procedures seemed farfetched because one would have never thought that the use of robots in the medical field would become the answer for many surgeons’ problems. For surgeons, the invention of the surgical robot gave them hope for a better future within their profession.