Robo-Surgeon

Robotic hysterectomy and its advantages

Your uterus needs to come out. Whether you have a benign condition , such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids, or something more serious, such as cancer, having a hysterectomy is a surgery that you should approach with some caution. Not only does it mean that you cannot have children anymore, but you will no longer have the protective effects of estrogen, such as protecting your heart and bones. If you do need the surgery, there are a few different approaches to consider, and the most cutting edge way to rid yourself of your uterus is robotic surgery. You may wonder if this type of surgery is for you and if it is worth the extra cost. Your doctor may be pushing you for the newest technology, but is it really the best for you in the long run?

Don't cut me open: traditional surgery vs. laparoscopic

Traditional surgery for a hysterectomy required a large incision in the abdomen. The incision could either be made vertically from the pubic bone to just above the belly button, or the incision could be “bikini” style and be made horizontally across the lower abdomen. It takes approximately four to six weeks to recover from this type of surgery, and there is usually a great deal of pain involved. Laparoscopic surgery changed that. Instead of a long incision, the surgeon makes six or seven small, inch long incisions that accept long, thin instruments. One of these instruments is a camera that allows the doctor to see what he is doing and perform the surgery without needing the access that open surgery provides. This results in less pain, less blood loss, and quicker recovery times for patients.

Wave of the future: robotic surgery vs. traditional laparoscopic

Robotic surgery takes traditional laparoscopic surgery one step further and, hopefully, makes it better. The same six or seven small incision are used, but instead of long thin instruments to manipulate and remove tissue, robotic instruments are inserted. The surgeon sits at a console away from the patient, and views the surgical field through a 3D television screen. The surgeon can manipulate the tissue with controls in this console. According to the manufacturer's website, da Vinci, the robotic interface has special technology that allows the surgeon to “feel” the tissue and decreases tremble in the instrument. They are also not as long and bulky as traditional laparoscopic equipment, so it is easier for a surgeon to manipulate them around a patient's body.

Useless technology or da' bomb: is robotic hysterectomy better?

One thing about robotic hysterectomies is for certain: they are far more expensive than the traditional surgeries. The manufacturer says robotic approaches allow for a better view of the surgical field and the touch of robotic instruments is far superior to traditional laparoscopic instruments. It is better than tradition laparoscopy, and laparoscopy is far better than traditional, open surgeries for patients. However, the research numbers don't seem to show that those who have robotic hysterectomies have any better outcomes than those who have traditional laparoscopic procedures, according to the European Society of Gynecological Oncology. Many surgeons like it because it enhances their ability to perform surgery, and many patients are demanding it because it is new and the hype suggests it is better. However, for the cost, it does not seem to out do traditional laparoscopic hysterectomy. It seems to be a case of a technology that is more hype than help.

References

• da Vinci; Hysterectomy
• MedPage Today; ESGO: Robotic Hysterectomy Costs More But No Better Outcome; Charles Bankhead; September 2011

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