Maybe you love Star Trek and Star Wars, maybe you don’t. But whether or not you’re a fan of science fiction, the word “robot” probably conjures up some pretty strong images, typically of a human-like contraption complete with flashing lights and retractable claws.
With that image in mind, it’s easy to see why many people are more than a little confused by “robotic surgery” — what it entails and why it’s used. In this post, the team at Desert West Surgery gives a quick overview of robotic surgery and the many benefits it can offer.
In fact, instead of thinking of it as robotic surgery, it’s more accurate to call it robot-assisted surgery. During your procedure, your doctor will perform the actual procedure, using robotic technology during specific parts of the procedure — similar to how a doctor uses different surgical instruments.
The robots used in surgery don’t look anything like the metal machines you see in sci-fi movies. Surgical robots can have different shapes and sizes, based on how they’re used.
Our team uses the da Vinci Surgical System, a multi-armed surgical tool that helps your doctor perform your surgery with greater visualization, greater accuracy, and tinier incisions — all major benefits over traditional surgery.
The surgeon controls the robotic arms, which have a much greater range of movements than human hands. The robotic arms use a particular computer to capture your surgeon’s hand movements, transferring those movements to tiny surgical instruments.
In addition to its surgical arms, the da Vinci unit features an imaging device and a console, where your doctor can view the surgical site on a special video screen and control the robotic arms. The device also features a positionable camera and focused lights for even better viewing.
The da Vinci Surgical System offers multiple benefits for your doctor and you, including these six.
No matter what type of surgery you’re having, there will be some tissue damage, beginning with the incision itself. But the improved accuracy and precision of the robot-assisted system mean damage to surrounding tissues is dramatically decreased. Less tissue damage means less bleeding and swelling after surgery, too.
When incisions are smaller and less tissue is damaged during the surgical procedure, it just makes sense you’ll be more comfortable after your surgery.
Less tissue damage, less bleeding, and less swelling all translate to faster healing and faster recovery times, along with a quicker return to your everyday activities.
Tinier incisions mean any resulting scars will be much smaller and much harder to see. Plus, those small incisions also reduce the risk of infection.
The da Vinci system features high-definition, 3D, and zoom capabilities to better view the surgical site than other imaging systems.
Thanks to smaller incisions, reduced tissue damage, and other factors, many robot-assisted procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis or with limited time in the hospital.
Although robotic surgery offers several crucial benefits, it’s not always the right choice for every patient or every type of surgery. Sometimes, minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery or traditional surgical techniques are a better choice for helping you get better.
With three office locations in Las Vegas, Nevada, Desert West Surgery is a leading provider of state-of-the-art surgery, with a top-rated team skilled in multiple types of surgery so you can feel confident in your care. To learn more about robotic surgery, call or book an appointment online today.
