Basics On Robotic Surgery Houston Residents Need To Know

By Debra Butler


Robotic surgery is type of technique in which operations are conducted through minimal invasion. A robot is used to increase the accuracy and reduce the risk of complications. It acts as an extension of the hands of the operating surgeon. It should be emphasized that the operation is conducted by the surgeon and not the robot. If they have plans of undergoing robotic surgery Houston residents need to understand some facts beforehand.

Just as is the case with all surgical procedures, there is a need for some form of preparation before a potential candidate can undergo the operation. Many of these preparations are similar to those carried out for other operations. They include, for example, having a full blood count to establish the hemoglobin level as well as the number of platelets. Drugs likely to increase bleeding risk need to be stopped at least ten days in advance.

The first thing that is done when you get to the operating room is to receive the anesthesia. This may be regional or general depending on the medical condition. The next thing is the creation of three small incisions over your tummy. These three are used for the placement of equipment. The surgeon makes his way to a computer station from where they conduct the rest of the operation. An endoscope connected to a monitor guides them through the process.

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.

Robot assisted surgeries have been used and are still used for a wide range of conditions. These include, among others, the repair of ventral hernias, radical prostatectomy, hysterectomy, tubal ligation and reversal, reduction of cancerous growths, repair of cardiac valves and coronary artery bypass among others. The technique may not be suitable for very complicated cases where manual manipulation is a necessity.

Compared to the open technique and other endoscopic options, there are a number of advantages that will be realized. One of them is the fact that greater precision of cutting can be achieved due to the computerized assistance that is used here. This makes it possible to operate in very small spaces without damaging the adjacent structures. The surgeon sits comfortably hence is less likely to suffer from fatigue that is common during long procedures.

There are a number of factors that may hinder the full utilization of this type of surgery. Among them is inaccessibility. Many hospitals are yet to acquire these pieces of equipment. For those that have them, the surgeons may not be adequately trained to use them. Most surgeons prefer to use techniques that they have used for a long time and making adjustments becomes quite difficult.

Some complications may arise from the operations that are conducted using this technique. They include, for example, excessive blood loss, injury to other anatomical organs, reactions to the drugs used for anesthesia and infections in the long term. Generally, the risk here is lower than that associated with conventional endoscopy and open surgery. Proper preparation before the operation will help reduce the risk further.




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