Basics On Robotic Surgery Houston Residents Need To Know

By Debra Butler


Robotic surgery is a form of minimally invasive surgical operation in which the surgeon is assisted by a small robot in their work. The robot has arms to which the necessary surgical instruments are attached. It is important to point out that it is not the robot that conducts the operation. Rather it is the surgeon but with a little help. There are a number of facts on robotic surgery Houston residents would find informative.

The preparation needed for one to undergo this type of operation is similar to what is required in other operations. For instance, their hemoglobin and platelet levels should be within the acceptable ranges. Drugs likely to increase the risk of bleeding should be stooped at least ten days before the procedure. Depending on the type of anesthesia that is to be used, patients may also be required to fast (for at least 8 hours) so as to reduce the risk of aspiration.

The surgeon will typically sit next to a computer that is located within the operating room. Once anesthesia has been given (whether regional or general), the surgeon will make three small incisions in the area being operated. These incisions are used for the insertion of instruments. An endoscope is inserted through one of the ports of entry and used to transmit the events at the surgical field onto a monitor.

Modern robotic equipment are capable of generating 3-D images onto the monitor. This effectively recreates the anatomical region for the surgeon. If you have been put on regional anesthesia (such as spinal block), you will remain awake and may have an opportunity to see the operation taking place. The robot is programmed to match the hand movements of the surgeon and these are transmitted to the tiny surgical instruments at the operation site.

There are numerous indications for robot assisted surgeries. They include cardiovascular operations such as coronary artery bypass and mitral valve repair. Others include hernia repair, reduction of tumor masses, hysterectomy, tubal ligation and prostatectomy among others. It is important to note that the method is not effective in the management of very complex operations especially those in which manual manipulation may be needed.

The robotic technique has a number of advantages over both the laparoscopic and open surgical options. The robot confers greater precision in cutting and repairing compared to both of the other two options. The small size of instruments involved as well as the exposure provided by the camera enables the surgeon to operate with ease and reduces the risk of injury to adjacent structures. The likelihood of surgeon burnout is markedly reduced.

A few challenges may prevent optimal utilization of this option in handling routine surgical operations. Among them is the fact that accessibility is often a problem since most centers are yet to acquire the equipment. Related to the same, is the absence of adequately trained personnel to operate the equipment. Most experienced surgeons find it difficult to abandon the methods that they have used for many years.

There is a risk of complications but this is a lot lower than that associated with the other techniques. The possible complications that may ensue include reactions to the anesthetic medications, bleeding from the surgical site and infections. In some situations, the surgery may be challenging leading to the use of alternative methods. Adequate pre-operative preparation will help reduce the risk of these complications.




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