Surgical technology is constantly advancing, resulting in better outcomes for patients, less pain, shorter stays in hospital and quicker recovery. And one of the most important developments in recent years is the advancement of robotic surgery technology.
What Is Robotic Surgery?
Robotic surgery is a surgical method performed by using small tools that are attached to a robotic system. Rather than the surgeon performing the procedure with their own hands, they control robotic arms with a computer.
The robotic system includes a camera arm which incorporates a small endoscope that allows the surgeon to view magnified three dimensional HD images of the patient’s body while the surgery is being performed. The remaining arms have very small surgical instruments attached to them. These are controlled by the surgeon’s own hands which are mimicked by the mechanical arms.
This allows surgeons to perform delicate and complex procedures that would be difficult or otherwise impossible using other methods. The camera technology used in robotic surgery also allows the surgeon to see the area much clearer too.
What Are The Benefits of Robotic Surgery In Urology
Robotic surgery is particularly beneficial in urology and is becoming common practice for the treatment of a range of urologic conditions and diseases, such as prostate cancer, kidney cancer, and bladder cancer, prostate removal and treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate). These are delicate surgical procedures, and the precision that robotic surgery allows is highly beneficial for patients.
Benefits of robotic surgery include include:
• Significantly less pain
• Lower risk of infection
• Less blood loss
• Lower risk of complication
• Quicker recovery
• Smaller scars
• Lower risk of side effects, such as erectile dysfunction after a cystectomy
• A shorter stay in hospital
Common Robotic Surgical Procedures In Urology
Robotic technology is becoming increasingly popular in urologic surgery and is being used in many procedures that have traditionally been performed as open surgery or laparoscopically. Some of the common urologic procedures that robotics are being used in include:
• Radical prostatectomy (removal of the cancerous prostate)
• Nephrectomy (removal of entire kidney)
• Partial and radical nephrectomy (removal of part or all of the kidney)
• Cystectomy (removal of the bladder)
Robotic Surgery With Urology Specialist
Dr Arianayagam is a highly experienced robotic surgeon with many years experience using robotic techniques to treat a range of conditions. He is a proctor for Device Technologies, who supply the Da Vinci Robotic System in Australia.
This means Dr Arianayagam is qualified to teach other surgeons to use this technique. He has trained in robotic surgery for removal of the bladder for cancer (radical cystectomy), robotic removal of the cancerous prostate, robotic kidney surgery where part of the kidney (partial nephrectomy) or all of the kidney is removed (radical nephrectomy).
If you’d like to find out more about the benefits of robotic surgery or have any questions regarding a condition, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today.
