What is Robotic Surgery and its Importance in Healthcare Sector?

What is Robotic Surgery?

A robotic surgical system to perform surgeries on patients is known as Robotic Surgery. According to the patient's health conditions, it can be performed alone or in conjunction with typical open surgical procedures, like minimally invasive surgery. The most commonly used system is the Da Vinci system; it has three parts: a surgeon's console, a patient cart, and a vision cart. The surgeon's console is the surgeon's control desk, the vision cart is the binder that helps coordinate and communicate, and the patient is operated on at the patient's desk.

Why Perform Robotic Surgery?

Robotic surgery is ideal for complex treatments that need high accuracy. Performing exceedingly difficult surgeries are complex using usual methods. In such circumstances, a Robotic Procedure may be the only alternative since it allows the flexibility needed to accomplish the desired results. 

This process allows the doctors to examine the region being operated on, in precise detail.

It's a great way to do surgery in difficult-to-reach areas.

Conditions Where the Robotic Surgery has Been effective?

Robotic surgery has proven to be effective in a variety of treatments, such as

• Heart angiography, angioplasty, and other heart-related surgeries
• Urologic surgeries
• Gynecological surgeries
• Endometriosis
• Head and neck surgeries
• Colorectal surgeries
• General surgeries
• Cataract surgeries
• Thoracic surgeries

Benefits of Robotic Surgery

In today's world, where time is considered highly precious, robotic surgery has become popular as they are fast & as effective.

Here are some of the benefits of Robotic Procedures

• The surgeons get a clearer perspective of what is going on throughout the procedure, allowing them to see things and make better judgments.
• Robotic operations does not cause major tissue damage, allowing a quicker recovery.
• When Robotic Surgery is conducted with smaller incisions, the possibilities of infection are reduced.
• There is less blood loss when Robotic Surgery is conducted, which means fewer blood transfusions are required.
• Compared to traditional surgery, the scars from robotic surgeries are less apparent.
• Robotic operations result in fewer surgical complications.
• There is no need to stay in the hospital for an extended period. Traditional treatments may need you to remain for weeks, but this is not the case with most robotic surgeries.

Is Using Robot Surgery Safe?

People misunderstand the robotic surgical system by believing that the robot makes the decisions. However, this is not the case. The surgeon who performs robotic surgery is responsible for its safety. When the surgeon has the required and adequate training on using the robotic surgical instruments, the robotic surgery is safe and highly successful.

According to the Insurance Regulator and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) Health Regulations 2019, health insurance companies are instructed to cover robotic surgery as a current therapy, with or without a sub-limit. However, it is recommended that the policyholder carefully check the terms and conditions of the health insurance claims and co-payment terms for the robotic surgeries.

FAQ

1. What exactly is robotic surgery?

Robotic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical technique where a surgeon controls robotic arms fitted with specialised instruments and a high-definition 3D camera, enhancing precision, flexibility, and visualisation compared to traditional methods.

2. How does robotic surgery differ from laparoscopic or open surgery?

• Open surgery involves large incisions and direct manual handling.
  
   
• Laparoscopic surgery uses small incisions and handheld tools guided by a 2D camera.
  
   
• Robotic surgery builds on laparoscopy, offering 3D vision, tremor filtration, and greater instrument dexterity, leading to more precise movements.

3. What are the potential benefits of robotic surgery?

Robotic surgery often results in smaller incisions, reduced pain and bleeding, less scarring, shorter hospital stays, a quicker return to everyday activities, and lower risk of complications due to the high precision of the instruments.

4. Are there any drawbacks or limitations to robotic surgery?

Yes—robotic systems are expensive, which can lead to higher procedure costs. There’s also a learning curve, so surgeon experience matters. Additionally, the setup time and availability of robotic systems can vary across hospitals.

5. Which types of procedures can be done robotically?

Robotic surgery is used in a wide range of fields: urology (e.g., prostate removal), gynecology (e.g., hysterectomy), general surgery (e.g., gallbladder removal), cardiac surgery, colorectal procedures, and some thoracic and head & neck operations.