Robotic Surgery is a minimally invasive successor for open surgeries as well as laparoscopic procedures which can be adopted for both major and minor surgeries.

For Doctors:

Helps to operate from a comfortable position
Decreases fatigue while dealing with lengthy procedures
Magnifies the object several times
Provides a three dimensional view
Offers the ability to move swiftly
For Patients:

For lesser blood loss as incision is very small
Quick healing of incision/wounds
Lesser scope for infections and secondary complications
Shorter hospital stay
Faster return to normal activities

No.The Robot doesn’t perform the surgery by itself. It acts on the commands given by the surgeon. There is an anaesthetist who induces anaesthesia and monitor’s the functions of heart and lungs. An assistant uses the tools from the ports of the robotic arms to perform suction and sutures. A scrub technician helps in changing the tools and makes the required adjustments in the robotic arms. The surgeon controls the entire equipment namely the camera and the tools from his console and conducts the surgery feasibly.

The Da Vinci Surgical System performs a minimally invasive procedure under the control of the surgeon abiding his commands and mocking his moves. It, in fact demands more attention from the surgeon than usual as he is not only giving instructions to the robot but also performing it himself only through the robotic hands. The robot otherwise is not programmed to conduct any particular procedure instead it only acts on the instructions given by the surgeon. Therefore, the role of the robot is to take instructions and act accordingly. It’s important to note that it shall not replace a surgeon at any point of time during the procedure.

At the discretion of the doctor.

At the discreIn case of a technical failure, the surgeon will choose an alternative procedure without wasting time. The medical team is aware and are prepared for such an emergency.tion of the doctor.

The U.S Food and Drug Administration has pronounced that the robotic procedure can be used for surgeries related to Urology, Gynaecology; Heart, lungs and Pleural cavities while for the head and the neck only the tumours that are categorised as T1 and T2 can be treated apart from the general laparoscopic procedures.The same procedure is still not approved to treat paediatric related ailments on head and neck.

You may be advised to go for certain tests to ensure if there is any other concerns or issues. Since the procedure doesn’t involve big incisions there is very negligible amount of blood loss and as such there is nothing to worry.

There is a well-equipped team monitoring the procedure while the robotic surgeon is controlling the Da Vinci surgical system from his console. The patient is closely observed by the inmates and they ensure that the needs of the treatment are taken care of as per the roles and duties assigned to them.

Robotic surgery assures faster recovery when compared to open surgeries.

Yes. The insurance does cover any procedure that falls under the category of “Robotic Minimally Invasive Surgery” while the benefits in the package might vary.

Like any other procedure, Robotic surgery is also prone to risks and certain short ailments. The risks are similar to that of a Laparoscopic surgery. The doctor will talk to you about what best suits you. Some of the risks include –

A possible hernia in the site when single incisions are made
Duration of the procedure may increase
Patient may have to stay under anesthesia for a longer time
Sometimes one may have to undergo more than one or larger incisions
Conversion of the procedure to another technique in a dire emergency