The Pros and Cons of Robotic Surgery

The potential advantages of robotic surgery are many—reduced pain and risk of infections. Minor bleeding (lessened blood loss)Reduced time to recovery (reduced time from hospital stay) Greater functionality – patients can go back to work, sporting events or engage in other physical activities sooner than before surgery. Fewer incisions, improved quality of life

Robotic surgery is an option for any condition where a person cannot perform the complex tasks necessary to care for a patient in an acute care setting. For example, a surgical technician may operate a ventilator or an anesthetic machine on a patient. Without the anesthetic or the device, the patient may not be able to breathe. Unfortunately, there are often complications that come with operating specific machines, such as an anesthetic machine. The result is that the patient has to take more time to recover.

AHKC Robotic Surgery Adelaide can minimise the complications and pain of these types of surgeries. The equipment and techniques are very similar to those used in conventional surgery. However, robotic surgeons can use their equipment with only one hand, eliminating the need for multiple muscle-to-muscle transfers. The surgeon can transfer more blood and tissue between the brain regions damaged by the disease or injury and the areas not affected.

Robotic surgery also reduces the need for expensive special surgical instruments. Because robotic instruments are compact, they can often be purchased at a fraction of the price of traditional surgical instruments. Because they are not as bulky and take up less space, they can also be shipped via UPS and FedEx. In addition, robotic surgery can eliminate the need for additional surgical personnel for monitoring, administration and other details necessary for a successful surgery. Since a patient can travel to a specialist for additional care after a laparoscopic surgical procedure, there is less time away from the actual surgical procedure itself.

Because robotic surgery can minimise many of the risks associated with surgical procedures, it can also produce quicker recovery time. A significant concern with robotic surgery is that it is less invasive than traditional methods so that the recovery time can be longer. However, with the advancements in medical technology, the recovery time for robotic surgery can be reduced by almost half. Additionally, recovery time is faster because the equipment is less invasive, so the patient is back to work or other regular activities sooner. Recovery time can be further reduced when other healthcare professionals are involved, such as a physical therapist or an orthopedic.

Another benefit to robotic surgery is that the surgeon can precisely control the movements of each piece of equipment used during the procedure. Because each piece of equipment has a different motion that can pose unique complications if not performed correctly, a surgeon must use sophisticated equipment to make precise movements that will result in minimal movement problems to patients. Because of the precision required for these complex surgical procedures, a surgeon performing robotic surgery must have years of surgical experience and training.