‘Robotic surgery is a technique in which a surgeon performs surgery using a
computer that remotely controls very small instruments attached to a robot’ (Miller 2011).
The definition of Robotic Surgery is self explanatory and highlights the innovation,
technology and significance associated with it. Robotic Surgery has evolved as a state of the
art medical technology and has empowered doctors and surgeons undertake complex
operations with high precision. Robotic Surgery is a boon for us with numerous
advantages.
Robotic surgery is a robot assisted surgery or operation in which a robot is programmed to
help and aid the surgeon in the positioning, handling and use of surgical instruments to
achieve some very difficult and complex tasks. Robotic Surgery offers many benefits and
advantages that are making it popular.
One of the biggest advantages of Robotic Surgery is that it is a type of minimally invasive
Surgery. As a minimally invasive process, in Robotic Surgery patients are not exposed to
large incisions for their operations, rather miniaturized and specialized surgical
instruments that fit through a series of quarter-inch incisions are used. This has multiple
benefits for the patients as well as the surgeons. For the patients this means faster
recovery, less trauma on body and less/no scarring and for the surgeons it means high
precision and efficiency. When a surgery is performed with the da Vinci Si- the world’s
most advanced surgical robot- miniaturized instruments are mounted on three separate
robotic arms, allowing the surgeon maximum range of motion and precision, while the
fourth arm contains a magnified high-definition 3-D camera that guides the surgeon during
the procedure (NYULangone, n.d.). This clearly explains the benedictions Robotic Surgery
has for surgeons and how it significantly improves the surgical process.
One more advantage of Robotic Surgery, which has the potential of saving lives, is that it
allows and empowers surgeons to perform and conduct surgery from distance. It has given
birth to the concept of telesurgery, which involves doctors performing delicate surgeries
even though they are miles away from the patients. This leads to greater flexibility, urgent
and faster surgeries and reduced costs as patients and surgeons need not travel.
Some other equally significant and important uses and benefits of Robotic Surgery include
reduced operative time, significant decrease in loss of blood and possibility of infections
The detractors and critics try to inflate and magnify the disadvantages of Robotic Surgery
in the process of criticizing it. They talk about how expensive the overall process is, but the
experts have predicted that with continuous advent in technology the costs involved in the
process are set to decrease considerably. Also, learning curve is termed as a disadvantage
for Robotic Surgery as special training and experience are necessary for optimum results
(Medscape 2005). But this is not one of those issues that cannot be overcome.
Robotic Surgery has to some extent revamped and improved the processes involved in
surgeries. They offer great hope for better and widespread health care, with the promise of
saving more lives. It is a boon for medical fraternity as well as patients for which
advantages completely outweigh and outnumber the disadvantages and hence it should be
References
Miller, Scott (2011). Robotic Surgery-All Information. University of Maryland Medical
Center. Retrieved December 11, 2012,
NYULangone (n.d.). What is Robotic Surgery? NYULangone Medical
Center. Retrieved December 11, 2012,
Medscape (2005). Robotics? Medscape Education
. Retrieved December 11, 2012,
