Robotic Surgery | Robotic GI Cancer Surgery

Robotic surgery is precision surgery where the surgeon controls and operates specifically designed medical robots to perform complex operations by minimally invasive technique i.e. ‘key hole’ surgery

Robotic surgery is more likely to be accomplished in minimally invasive technique in comparison to standard laparoscopic surgery.

For the patient this translates into less blood loss, less pain, lower requirement for analgesics, shorter hospital stay and better cosmesis.

This is feasible because of several attributes of the medical robot:

– The robot provides superior quality, magnified 3 dimensional (3D) vision to the surgeon.

– Robotic instruments are designed for wider range of movements and are able to replicate human wrist movements.

– It provides a stable platform for instruments thereby eliminating human fatigue & tremors.

– It also provides for ease in surgical suturing which helps in reconstruction.

– It help surgeon to operate in closed, narrow spaces in the abdominal cavity such as the pelvis (cancer rectum) where it may be difficult to perform laparoscopic surgery.

Robotic surgery has been introduced in clinical practice nearly 2 decades ago and since then its safety is well documented in scores of publications on the subject. The technique has been approved by the US FDA. In the Unites States of America robotic surgery is offered at over 1300 centers and increasing number of surgeries are being performed robotically all across the world including Europe, Japan, Korea and now India.

Outcomes of robotic surgery for GI cancers in terms of immediate postoperative results & oncologic parameters are comparable to traditional open & laparoscopic techniques.

Feasibility of robotic surgery for an individual patient is decided by the surgical team following comprehensive evaluation and consultation with the patient & family.

Robot assisted liver, pancreatic & colorectal resections and procedure for other GI cancers are being increasingly performed throughout international centers of excellence.