Robotic surgery, or robot-assisted surgery, allows doctors to perform many types of complex procedures with more precision, flexibility, and control than is possible with conventional techniques.
Robotic Surgery
Robotic surgery is an excellent surgical option for many infertility procedures. A form of minimally invasive surgery, robotic surgery utilises robot-assisted, computer technology to enhance the ability of the surgeon, who directs the robotic device from a console adjacent to the patient. It allows the surgeon to perform complex manoeuvres in compact places that would otherwise not be possible.
Compared with traditional and even laparoscopic surgery, robotics allows surgeons to have easier access to the lower pelvis through very small incisions. Thus, robotic surgery may be used to treat different causes of infertility, and includes procedures such as
Uterine fibroid removal, or myomectomySurgical removal of lesions and scarring caused by endometriosisRemoval or reduction of scarring which causes tubal blockage and fallopian tube diseaseTubal reanastomosisCystectomy (ovarian cyst removal)Tubal ligation reversal
How is it done?
Surgeons are specially trained in robotic surgery. After placement of the robotic instruments, the surgeon then sits at a console and uses foot or hand controls to precisely manipulate the robotic surgical arms, allowing micromanipulation of the surgical instruments to perform precise surgical manoeuvres. Robotics in surgery equips surgeons with enhanced capabilities, including high-definition 3D vision and a magnified view. The system translates the surgeon's hand movements into smaller, more precise movements with tiny instruments inside the body. Though it is called a “robot,” the system cannot act on its own and the surgery is performed entirely under the surgeon's control.
The surgeon has a three-dimensional view of the operating area at all times, which is superior to the two-dimensional view offered in traditional laparoscopic surgery. One robotic arm connects to a camera and is directly controlled by the surgeon. By using the robotic arm, it ensures that the camera produces a stable and precise image. The other robotic arms mimic the human hand's skill and dexterity and provide seven degrees of motion while eliminating any potential tremors present in a human hand. The surgeon moves his hands and the robot performs the same movement, although on a much smaller scale, thus completing precise surgical manoeuvres.
The advantages of robotics-assisted surgery over traditional open surgery can include
Less postoperative pain, scarring and blood lossFaster recovery time and shorter hospital stayReduced chance of post-surgical complications, including infectionsBetter cosmetic results with less scarring due to smaller incisionsReduced tissue traumaRobotic surgery combines the advantages of minimally invasive laparoscopy with the full range of motion a surgeon needs to achieve better outcomes. Surgeries that may not have been possible with traditional laparoscopy can now be done with robotics. While there may be mild risks that come with robotic surgery, doctors will completely discuss these risks with each patient, and determine whether robotic surgery is the best option on an individual basis.
