Robotic Laparoscopic Surgery
Overview
What is Robotic Laparoscopic Surgery?
Robotic laparoscopic surgery uses Robotic assistance for the performance of surgeries. There are robotic arms and machine-guided cameras that move as per the directions provided by the surgeon through a console. In robotic laparoscopic surgeries, the surgeons do not directly cut or incise the skin as in traditional surgeries. Robotic laparoscopic surgeries are performed in the abdominal and pelvic areas. They are used widely by gastro surgeons, obstetricians, and urologists.
Alternate Name of Robotic Laparoscopic Surgery
Keyhole surgery
Body Location
In the abdominal or pelvic area, for example, surgery of the urinary bladder.
How is Robotic Laparoscopic Surgery Performed?
Robotic laparoscopic surgeries or keyhole surgeries are performed by eloquent robots and modern technology. For the surgery, keyhole-sized incisions are made in the abdomen or pelvis of the patient. The camera or the laparoscope is inserted through these incisions inside the patient's body cavity. The laparoscope provides a 3D peek to the surgeon inside the patient's body.
Additionally, the surgeon handles robotic arms through a console, which looks much like a joystick. Attached to the console are 4-6 robotic arms trained to perform highly skilled surgical sutures, incisions, and resections. The doctor performs the surgery simply by moving the robotic arms in the desired directions while getting image data from the laparoscope.
Thus, robotic laparoscopic surgeries essentially eliminate direct contact between the surgeon with the patient's body or organs.
Preparation for Robotic Laparoscopic Surgery
- Clothing requirements: As you enter the hospital for a scheduled laparoscopic surgery, make sure that you wear loose-fitted clothing to change quickly. Get rid of all the jewelry or metal bracelets. Avoid wearing heels as they can cause discomfort while walking back due to the effects of anesthesia.
- Nutritional requirements: Avoid smoking and drinking at least a day before the surgery. Talk to your doctor to time your last meals as per the surgery timings.
Robotic Laparoscopy Procedure Type
Invasive surgical
Follow-Up After Robotic Laparoscopy
Follow-up after a laparoscopic procedure is done within a few weeks of the surgery. The main aim of the follow-up is to ensure that the surgery has been performed correctly without any significant complications. During the follow-up, the doctor can perform various tests and imaging exams such as X-rays to ensure that the purpose of the surgery has been ultimately achieved, freeing the patient of the ailment.
The doctor also assesses the patient's incisions because, sometimes, the incisions can get infected, or blood clots can result. To keep the patient safe from these complications, a thorough physical exam is also performed during the follow-up. It also gives patients another chance to raise other concerns they might be facing since the surgery.
Risks Factor of Robotic Laparoscopic Surgery
Laparoscopic surgery is major surgery. Some of the risks that nearly every patient faces from such major surgeries are-
- Injury to other visceral organs: Since laparoscopic surgeries are aimed toward abdominal and pelvic organs, it is quite possible to cause unintentional damage to one organ while tending to the other. Injury to the bladder or the intestines during laparoscopic surgery can occur.
- Internal bleeding: During laparoscopic surgery, mishandling of the console or a blurred view from the laparoscope can result in cutting the wrong blood vessel. This may lead to internal bleeding, worsening the patient's condition.
- Blood clotting: Blood clotting is a common complication after major surgeries. While blood thinners can reduce the risk, some clots can escape to the heart or the major blood vessels and completely clog the blood flow, leading to threatening complications.
Recovery from Robotic Laparoscopic Surgery
Recovery after robotic laparoscopic surgeries is generally faster than traditional surgeries. The small size of the incision reduces blood loss and post-surgical pain. Moreover, small incisions take less time to heal and enable the patient to return to work and everyday life in a relatively short period compared to open surgeries.
Besides, the surgical dissections are performed quite accurately using robotic arms, reducing the chances of post-operative complications and speeding up recovery. In most cases, patients who underwent robotic laparoscopic surgeries have shorter hospital stays, reduced incidence of infections, and less pain and scarring due to the surgery.