da Vinci robotic colorectal surgery
January 9, 2012The following videos describe how the da Vinci robotic system is used in colorectal surgery: one video discusses surgery for ulcerative colitis, the other for colon cancer.
The da Vinci system has been around for over a decade now, and roughly 1,000 of these units have been sold worldwide. I, however, have never talked to anybody (as far as I know) who has had robot-assisted surgery before, so I can’t speak to how they work in practice. One misconception about this surgery is that the robot does the surgery itself: not true. The robot can’t perform any functions on its own. Rather, the system is a highly advanced extension of the surgeon’s hands.
Proponents of the da Vinci system claim it yields better results, faster recovery time, and smaller incisions. Opponents think that the high cost of the surgery, and the steep learning curve for surgeons, might not make the surgery worth it, especially compared to laparoscopic surgery, which is also an option.
To learn more about the da Vinci’s uses in colorectal surgery, visit the official da Vinci website.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
Question: Have you had robotic-assisted surgery? You know the drill by now…tell us your story!
