How Robot Assisted Surgery is Revolutionizing Healthcare
Blog post description.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
What is Robot Assisted Surgery?
Robot Assisted Surgery often called as Robotic Surgery.When you hear about a "robotic" procedure, it doesn't mean an actual robot is performing the surgery. Instead, it involves surgeons using robotic technology to increase their precision and control. These systems typically consist of one or more robotic arms, which doctors operate remotely from a nearby console A laparoscope is attached to one of these arms, which provides a clear view of the surgical area, while the other arms handle various surgical instruments. The surgeon views the tumor in three dimensions on a computer screen, guiding the robotic arms using a joystick similar to that found in video games. This setup allows for highly precise and dexterous movements by mimicking the natural motion of the wrist and hand.
Purpose and Advantages of Robotic Surgery :
Surgeons favor robotic systems because they enhance precision, flexibility, and control during procedures. These systems offer a significantly improved view of the surgical site compared to traditional methods. With robotic assistance, surgeons can undertake delicate and complex operations that might be challenging or even impossible with conventional techniques. Robotic surgery is typically performed through small incisions in the skin and other tissues, a technique known as minimally invasive surgery. This approach offers several benefits:-
Reduced complications: Lower risk of surgical site infections.
Less discomfort: Decreased pain and blood loss.
Faster recovery: Shorter hospital stays and quicker recuperation.
Better cosmetic results: Smaller and less noticeable scars.
Disadvantages of Robotic Surgery:
1.Exorbitant Costs
Surgical robot purchases have a significant upfront cost, frequently reaching the millions of dollars.
The requirement for disposable instruments, maintenance, and repairs raise the expense of continuous operations.
These costs may make robotic surgery less accessible, especially in environments with limited resources.
2.The learning curve:
Robotics is a skill that requires substantial training for surgeons and operating room personnel to master.
There is a chance that the early stages of adoption will result in more difficulties and lengthier initial surgery durations due to the steep learning curve.
3.Complex Setup and Longer Preparation Time:
Robotic surgery system setup can be a laborious and intricate process that demands careful planning and placement.
This may increase how long the surgery takes in total.
4.Restricted Haptic Response:
Surgeons rely on tactile input from traditional robotic systems to determine how much force is exerted during tissue manipulation.
Surgeons using robotic systems cannot feel what they are touching or manipulating during surgery. In traditional surgery, surgeons rely on their sense of touch to judge the pressure they apply and to feel the texture and resistance of tissues. This tactile feedback helps them perform delicate tasks more precisely. However, in robotic-assisted surgery, the robotic arms and tools do not provide this sensation to the surgeon, making it harder to judge the right amount of force to use and increasing the risk of unintentional damage to tissues.
5.Dimensions and Handling:
Robotic systems usually take up a lot of room in the operating room since they are big and bulky.
Their limited portability makes them unsuitable for usage in field settings or smaller hospitals.Technical Issues and Downtime:
6.Technical Issues and Downtime:
Technical issues with robotic devices can disrupt surgeries and force a return to more conventional techniques.
Patient care and surgery schedules may be impacted by unscheduled downtime.
Areas Needing Improvement
1.Cost Reduction:
Developing more cost-effective robotic systems is crucial to making robotic-assisted surgery accessible to a broader range of healthcare facilities.
Reducing the cost of disposable instruments and maintenance can also help lower overall expenses
2.Enhanced Haptic Feedback:
Improving the tactile feedback in robotic systems would help surgeons feel tissue resistance, improving precision and reducing the risk of injury
3.Improved Training Programs:
Creating more efficient and effective training programs can help shorten the learning curve and ensure surgeons are proficient more quickly.
Simulators and virtual reality training environments can provide hands-on practice without risking patient safety.
4.Smaller and More Portable Systems:
Developing more compact and portable robotic systems would allow their use in a wider variety of clinical settings, including smaller hospitals and field operations.
5.Advanced Automation and AI Integration:
Increasing the level of automation in robotic systems can help with routine tasks, allowing surgeons to focus on more complex aspects of surgery.
Enhanced AI integration can provide better real-time guidance and decision support, improving surgical outcomes.
6.Interoperability and Standardization:
Ensuring compatibility and standardization across different robotic systems can enhance flexibility and ease of use.
It would also facilitate the sharing of best practices and innovations across different platforms.
7.Minimizing Setup Time:
Simplifying the setup process and reducing the time required to prepare for robotic surgeries can improve efficiency and reduce overall procedure times.
8.Improved Ergonomics:
Designing robotic systems with better ergonomics can reduce physical strain on surgeons and make long procedures more comfortable.
By addressing these disadvantages and focusing on areas needing improvement, the field of robotic-assisted surgery can continue to evolve, offering safer, more efficient, and more accessible surgical options.
What is FDA approved da Vinci Surgical System
The da Vinci Surgical System is an advanced robotic platform engineered to enable complex surgeries through a minimally invasive approach. Manufactured by Intuitive Surgical, this system provides surgeons with enhanced capabilities, including high-definition 3D visualization, precision, flexibility, and control.
Key Characteristics of the da Vinci Surgical System:
1. Robotic Arms: The system consists of multiple robotic arms that hold surgical instruments and a high-definition 3D camera. The arms can move in ways that mimic the dexterity of the human hand, allowing for greater precision.
2. Surgeon's Console: Surgeons operate the system from a console equipped with a magnified 3D view of the surgical site. They use hand and foot controls to manipulate the robotic arms, translating their movements into precise actions within the patient’s body.
3. EndoWrist Instruments: These specialized instruments attached to the robotic arms can bend and rotate far more than the human wrist, providing the surgeon with greater range of motion and control during surgery.
4. Minimally Invasive Surgery: The system is designed to perform surgeries through small incisions, which reduces trauma to the body, minimizes scarring, and typically results in quicker recovery times for patients.
Applications:
The da Vinci Surgical System is used in various surgical specialties, including:
General Surgery: Procedures such as hernia repairs and gallbladder removals.
Cardiac Surgery: Minimally invasive heart procedures.
Colorectal Surgery: Operations on the colon and rectum.
Gynecologic Surgery: Hysterectomies and other procedures involving female reproductive organs.
Urologic Surgery: Prostatectomies and other surgeries related to the urinary system.
Benefits:
Enhanced Precision: The system's advanced technology allows for extremely precise movements.
Improved Visualization: The 3D high-definition camera provides surgeons with a detailed view of the surgical area.
Greater Flexibility: The EndoWrist instruments provide a greater range of motion than human hands.
Minimally Invasive: Smaller incisions lead to less pain, reduced blood loss, and quicker recovery times.
In summary, the da Vinci Surgical System represents a significant advancement in surgical technology, enabling surgeons to perform complex procedures with enhanced accuracy and minimal invasiveness.
Role of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
In July 2000, the FDA approved the da Vinci Surgical System, the first surgical robot, for general minimally invasive surgery.The FDA approved robotic prostate removal (radical prostatectomy) in the year following its introduction. In 2005, the FDA also approved robotic systems for cancer surgeries, including those for gynecological cancers. The Senhance System, another robotic surgical system, received FDA approval in 2017. As more hospitals invested in these expensive $2 million robots, surgeons began using them for a wider range of cancer procedures. Robotic assistants, marketed as "where Star Trek meets Dr. Oz," have attracted many patients who saw them advertised. Research indicates that patient demand has driven the increased adoption of robotic surgeries. However, the FDA issued a warning in 2019, stating that it's still unclear if robotic surgery is superior to traditional methods for cancer treatment.
Conclusion:
Robotic surgery is advancing quickly, making basic surgeries more precise and less invasive. Patients undergoing these minimally invasive procedures tend to have fewer post-operative infections and complications compared to those undergoing traditional open surgeries. Looking ahead, we expect that advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, will be integrated with robotic surgery, making surgeons' work easier and more efficient. However, it's important to note that robotic surgery will not replace human doctors anytime soon. The main goal of robotic systems is to augment human skills and improve surgical outcomes.
Reference :
Robotics in surgery: Current trends Published Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2022 Sep; 81: 104375.
Published online 2022 Aug 17. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104375
Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
Unit of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kuala Terengganu, 20400, Malaysia
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 10 P-ta 1 Decembrie, 410073, Oradea, Romania
Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
Department of Pharmacy, BGC Trust University Bangladesh, Chittagong, 4381, Bangladesh
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh