Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is a new way of performing standard operations of proven efficacy using techniques which inflict less harm physiological assault to the body to significantly reduced complications such as blood loss, infection and pain, thus resulting in significantly speedier recovery and improved functional outcome.  Also referred to as ‘keyhole’ surgery, MIS is carried out with specially designed long instruments which are inserted through small holes made into the various body cavities to and surgery is performed under vision through specially designed telescopes which afford detailed close up views. 

Robotic surgery is a form of keyhole surgery but the specially designed operating instruments not hand held but connected to robotic arms which are under surgeon’s full control. The robotic eye, a stereoscopic high resolution telescope gives surgeon detailed close range view of internal body parts in 3-dimensions. 

Click to view EAU video on Robotic Assisted Radical Prostatectomy 

How is the procedure performed 

The surgeon sits at a control console where he gets a 3-dimensional view from the robotic eye and actuates control levels in a way similar to but a lot more sophisticated than those in console computer games. These control levers in turn move the instruments to produce the desired action of cutting, separating tissue, stitching and sealing bleeding vessels in a way more precise than what bare hands can do. 

The da Vinci® operating surgeon comes a high definition stereoscopic (3-D) endoscope along the surgeon to achieve clear 3-dimensional view of the operative field. Robotic operating instrument are articulated internally adding to vastly improved dexterity. These instruments are mounted on robotic arms which do not tremor and do not tire.  Control of these instruments is designed to be highly intuitive for easy learning. 

What are the clinical advantages of Robotic surgery? 

Robotic surgery is a form of minimal invasive surgery (MIS) which is associated with less pain, bleeding and wound infection as well as significantly speedier recovery without compromising efficacy.  Robotic surgery, with the 3-dimensional high definition view and added precision and dexterity, allows surgeons to perform certain technically challenging operations with ease and precision yielding consistently good functional outcome. 

As an example, prostatectomy for prostate cancer is associated with a risk of post-operative erectile dysfunction and urine incontinence. Generally, robotic prostatectomy is associated with lower incidence of these complications as well as having smaller incisions and less risk of bleeding. 

What Urology Conditions can be done using Robotic Surgery? 

• Bladder Cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• Renal Cancer 

Discuss the Robotic Treatment with a Robotic Urology Surgeon 

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