
Is robotic surgery more effective?
Given the nature of robotic surgery, many surgeons who use the robotic surgery system have found it to be more precise and accurate as the use of mechanical arms allow surgeons to move with greater precision, range of motion, and control compared to doing the surgery with their own hands. The use of the stereoscopic 3D video camera also allows better visualisation of the surgical site with high-definition views that will be seen in the console (has better magnification than the naked eye and provides surgeons with greater depth perception of the surgical site). Given the greater depth perception, precision, range of motion and control, robotic surgery is also very accurate. Furthermore, from a patient’s perspective, given the minimally invasive nature of robotic surgery, there is also a lower risk of complications such as bleeding, pain, infection, and scarring. Since the incisions are also smaller, patients will also have a shorter recovery time and shorter hospital stay. Having a shorter recovery time enables the patient to get back to their normal lives as soon as possible or to head further onto oncological treatment for their lung cancers.
What is the success rate of robotic surgery?
Based on a study conducted in 2019, overall survival rates following lung resection for early-stage lung cancer was 86.1% with robotic surgery and 83.2% for open surgery, demonstrating that robotic surgery is a safe and feasible technique that can bring about comparable long-term and progression-free survival rates.Why do patients prefer robotic surgery?
Advantages vs Disadvantages
The advantages of robotic surgery are many, with the main one being that it enables surgeries to be carried out in a minimally invasive manner with smaller incisions created in the body. This allows for lower risk of surgical complications such as bleeding, infection, and pain, and also allows for shorter hospital stays and recovery times. There is also smaller scars after recovery. Furthermore, through the use of the robotic surgery system, robotic surgery allows surgeons to have better visualisation of the surgical site as well as the ability to perform the surgery with greater precision through the use of mechanical arms. Disadvantages of robotic surgery include:- It needs to be done by a specially trained surgeon who is well-versed in the technique, as robotic surgery is not available to all surgeons as part of their training.
- Robotic surgery is only available in healthcare facilities with the appropriate technology and manpower to maintain the robot.