What is advanced laparoscopic surgery?
For many years laparoscopic surgery has been at the top of the most advanced technology. However, the reality is that there are some limitations or difficulties in performing different abdominal surgical techniques with laparoscopic procedures. In this situation, robotic-assisted surgery (Da Vinci®) is aimed at overcoming these limitations.
Robot-assisted surgery, or robotic surgery, with the da Vinci system allows doctors to perform surgical procedures in a very precise manner. Operations are performed with more precision, flexibility and control compared to using conventional techniques. Robotic-assisted surgery is commonly associated with minimally invasive surgery, where procedures are performed with small incisions.
How does advanced laparoscopic surgery work?
Robot-assisted surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System uses a camera arm and mechanical arms with surgical instruments attached to them. The surgeon can control the arms while seated at a computer console near the operating table. The surgeon has a high-definition 3D view of the surgical site and directs other team members who assist them during surgery. The surgeon makes small cuts to insert instruments into the patient’s body. A thin tube with a camera attached to the end, as with an endoscope, allows the surgeon to view magnified 3D images of the patient’s body during surgery. The robot corresponds and matches the physician’s hand movements to perform the procedure using small instruments.
What is advanced laparoscopic surgery used for?
- Cardiac surgery.
- Colorectal surgery.
- General surgery.
- Gynecological surgery.
- Head and neck surgery.
- Thoracic surgery.
- Urological surgery.
What are the advantages and risks of advanced laparoscopic surgery?
Surgeons using the robotic system find that for many procedures it improves control during the operation and allows them to see the site more clearly.
The benefits of minimally invasive surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System include:
- Fewer complications, such as infections.
- Reduced blood loss and transfusions.
- Reduced pain and discomfort.
- Faster recovery time: shorter hospitalization and quicker return to normal activities.
- Less noticeable scars.
Robot-assisted surgery has small risk factors, which may be similar to those of conventional open surgery. Risks may include:
- Infections.
- Bleeding.
- Mechanical failure: unlike traditional surgery.
Who are the best candidates for advanced laparoscopic surgery?
The ideal patient for the robotic-assisted procedure is someone who has not had many abdominal surgeries. Typical abdominal surgeries such as appendectomy, gallbladder removal and hernia repair do not exclude people from undergoing robotic surgery. The decision will be made by the surgeon. Patients with prevalent cardiovascular and pulmonary disease may require further workup before undergoing this type of surgery.
How long does it take to recover from advanced laparoscopic surgery?
Although each case of surgery is unique, a patient’s return to daily activities after advanced laparoscopic surgery can occur in as little as two to three weeks. If traditional open surgery is performed, recovery time can take several months, including several days of hospitalization.