The miracles and wonders performed in the field of science can be truly impressive and mind blowing but sometimes it can also be daunting. The concept behind da Vinci Robotic Surgery could also certainly be considered threatening and nerve-cracking. When the surgeon says they would recommend a surgery named - da Vinci robotic system, it may sound like, a robot is going to perform the operation. But is it the fact?
No! Actually, the da Vinci system is an 'Intuitive Surgical Endoscopic Instrument Control System.' That means the da Vinci surgery is done by the teamwork of computers, electronics and machinery that provides a surgeon with an intuitive tool for seeing and controlling surgical instruments during an operation.
How Does da Vinci Work?
The da Vinci system is fully robotic and it uses robotic arms and instruments to assist the surgeon. The da Vinci robotic system's primary components are a console, a patient-side cart with operating tools and a 3D HD monitor.
Primary Components and Step-by-Step Procedure
Console: The surgeon sits in front of the console while looking into a monitor that shows a 3D image of the inside of the patient's anatomy. From the console, the doctor operates the controls that move the robotic arms of the machine.
Patient-Side Cart: This is the place where the patient is positioned during the surgical procedure. It includes either 3-4 robotic arms that carry out the surgeon's commands.
Instruments: The robotic arms are designed with a variety of instruments that have a greater degree of motion than human arms. Each instrument has a specific purpose: clamping, tissue manipulation or cutting. And also they can operate through small incisions, and this typically means a quicker healing time.
3D HD Vision System: To help the surgeons see the patient's anatomy clear, the da Vinci Robotics comes with a vision system. The system has a flexible tube like structure with a high definition camera and light at the end of the tube called an Endoscope. The camera transmits the captured image to a monitor on a cart which can be viewed by a surgeon.
Operations Performed Using Robotics
- Heart surgery
- Gallbladder removal
- Hip replacements
- Kidney transplant/removal
- Removing cancer tissue
- Tubal ligation
All these are just few of examples of why robotics in surgery has created a milestone in the history of medicine. Robotic surgery offers many benefits to patients compared to open surgery, including:
- Shorter hospitalization
- Reduced pain and discomfort
- Faster recovery time and return to normal activities
- Smaller incisions, resulting in reduced risk of infection
- Reduced blood loss and transfusions
- Minimal scarring
Major advantages for surgeons using robotic surgery include:
- Greater visualization
- Enhanced dexterity
- Greater precision
With the aid of computer intelligence, the visualization of a procedure and the support for surgical movements is likely to become better and even more precise! In conclusion, the da Vinci Robotic Surgery is really a boon for all complicated surgeries.