Robotic surgery, or robot-assisted surgery, allows physicians to perform many types of complex procedures with greater precision, flexibility, and control compared to conventional techniques. Robotic surgery is generally associated with minimally invasive surgery, procedures that are performed through small incisions. It is also sometimes used in certain traditional open surgical procedures.
At first, advances in less invasive surgery led to the development of laparoscopy, a type of surgical intervention in which a large wound was replaced by three small wounds, through which tubular structures known as "trocar" are inserted, which are They are used to introduce a camera, known as a laparoscope, as well as the various instruments that the surgeon requires to carry out the intervention.
Laparoscopy was initially used for abdominal surgery, gaining popularity for removing the gallbladder and performing bariatric surgery for the treatment of obesity, a procedure known as a cholecystectomy. Its use was extended by extending its range of action to a large number of interventions.
More recently, a breakthrough has emerged that leads to surgical instruments manipulated by the surgeon through the use of a robotic arm, paving the way for robotic surgery.
With this equipment, a higher resolution is obtained in the visualization of the images as well as a greater precision in the manipulation of the instruments. The surgeon does not have to stand next to the patient, but rather operates the robot close to the patient, but in a more comfortable position that contributes to achieving better results.
By using a robotic arm, the surgeon is able to perform surgical procedures with greater precision, since this equipment allows access to difficult or small areas, which also have a wide range of movements.
This equipment is very useful when treating surgical conditions such as cancer, especially prostate cancer, which usually grows with nearby structures such as blood vessels or nerve pathways. In these cases, precision is essential to achieve the maximum amount of tumor tissue, without damaging the adjacent structures.
Robotic surgery also has a number of advantages for the patient, allowing him to recover more quickly with less discomfort, especially pain, as well as with a lower risk of injury to neighboring structures.
