Robotic Surgery
Robotic Surgery is the most advanced technology in the medical world. Special surgeries performed in important centers around the world, especially in the branches of urology, pediatric urology, gynecology, general surgery, thoracic surgery, cardiovascular surgery and obesity surgery, can be performed with this technology.
Robotic surgery stands out with the special privileges it provides to doctors and patients, and is one of the most successful surgical methods used all over the world, especially in the fight against cancer.
Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery, known as "Da Vinci Robotic surgery", has three main features:
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The imaging system works on the principle of laparoscopic surgery. The image from inside the patient's body is transferred to the surgeon with the help of a camera. In robotic surgery, unlike laparoscopic surgery, this image is three-dimensional and it is a clear image without flicker since the camera control is performed by the robot. By getting very close to the organ to be operated on, clear images can be obtained at larger magnifications.
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The surgeon controls the robot arms with the help of a console. These robot arms are placed on the patient. Fiberoptic cables in the console go to the arms of the robot and transfer the small hand movements of the surgeon to the robotic arms, and the instruments such as surgical scissors, tissue or needle holders connected to them are provided to make the desired movements.
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Since surgical instruments attached to robotic arms can rotate 540 degrees, they can move in a way that does much more than hand movements. In addition, the natural tremor in the human hand is not reflected at all on the ends of surgical instruments in robotic surgery. In this way, the margin of error is also minimized.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF ROBOTIC SURGERY?
Comfort and Privileges Provided by Technological Superiority
Robotic surgery offers many privileges to the patient and surgeon thanks to its technological equipment and ease of use:
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The hospital stay and recovery time of the patient is much shorter than in open surgeries.
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The surgical scar is very small as the procedure is performed through a few small incisions.
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The mobility of the devices used in robotic surgery is also very high. Surgical procedures are performed in advanced dimensions, comfortably and quickly.
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Since the hand tremors are not transmitted to the robotic arms, the surgery is performed more safely.
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There is less risk of bleeding.
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The patient's recovery time is shortened.
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The risk of infection is lower.
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Robotic surgery provides comfort and convenience in terms of surgery, as it provides three-dimensional imaging and the ability to manage the surgery at the console.
IN WHICH DEPARTMENTS IS THE ROBOTIC SURGERY METHOD USED?
Robotic Surgery Applications in Urological Diseases
Robotic surgery, which is one of the most common areas of use in urological interventions, is mostly used in prostate cancer operations in urology. In addition, robotic surgery, which is used in cases of kidney, bladder, testicular cancers, benign prostate enlargement, adrenal gland tumors, urinary incontinence and stenosis of the kidney outlet (UPJ stenosis), and provides successful results, provides important advantages to the patient. In prostate cancer surgeries performed with robotic surgery, the erection nerves leading to the penis and the urinary retention muscles can be better protected and the risk of urinary incontinence and loss of sexual function of the patient after the surgery is minimized. However, in kidney tumor surgeries performed with the “da Vinci” technique, cancer control is achieved in the best way and only tumor tissue can be removed. With the robotic surgery method, which can also be used in testicular cancer, the surgery is performed through several holes completely closed and the large incisions applied in open surgery are replaced by 4 millimetric incisions. With the robotic surgery technology used in bladder cancer, the surgery is performed completely closed and the entire surgical process, including the construction of an artificial bladder from the intestine, is completed robotically. The experience of the surgical team is the most important factor in the success of the robotic surgery technique, which is not a completely robotic surgical application.
Robotic Surgery Applications in Pediatric Urology
Da Vinci robotic surgery can be used safely in urology surgeries performed on infants and children. In infants and children with extremely sensitive bodies, robotic surgery provides significant advantages in terms of reduced hospitalization time and cosmetic appearance, as well as minimizing the risk of pain and bleeding. Robotic surgery can be used in subjects such as removal of the kidney, treatment of UPJ stenosis, vesicoureteral reflux surgery, adrenal gland surgery, double kidney anomalies and neurogenic bladder.
Robotic Surgery Applications in Obesity Surgery
Obesity surgery, which can also be performed with the robotic method, offers special privileges to the patient and the doctor. While Sleeve Gastrectomy (Tubular Stomach), Gastric Bypass, Duedonal Switch and Revisional Surgery can be applied with the robotic method, the extra precision required for obesity patients can be achieved by the non-vibrating arms of the robot and the surgical instruments attached to the robotic arms having the ability to rotate 540 degrees. Procedures that can be performed through several or a single hole without creating an incision in certain groups of patients eliminate aesthetic concerns in patients. However, robotic surgery cannot be applied to some patients due to some conditions caused by obesity, problems such as adhesions and bleeding due to previous operations. These patients are operated by laparoscopic or open method. Before the operation, it is important to evaluate the patients well, to question the necessity of bariatric surgery and to determine which surgical technique would be better.
Robotic Surgery Applications in Thoracic Surgery
Robotic surgery, which comes to the forefront as a closed surgery method, is actively used in the field of thoracic surgery, especially in the pathologies between the two lungs called the mediastinum. This surgical method, which can be applied in diseases where excessive invasion and adhesions are not observed, is used in benign and malignant masses, cysts and fibroids that occur in the area between both lungs (mediastinum), lung and esophagus. In addition, robotic surgery is among the methods applied in the treatment of diaphragmatic hernias and lung lesions. This method, which provides advantages to both the patient and the physician, must be applied by specialists and experienced doctors.
Robotic Surgery Applications in Gynecological Diseases
Robotic surgery, which is the latest technology in closed surgeries, has an important place in the treatment of gynecological diseases. Robotic surgery, which is performed closed with the arms controlled by the surgeon, has many advantages compared to traditional laparoscopic surgeries, and this surgical method can be used in all situations suitable for conventional laparoscopy. Among the gynecological diseases in which robotic surgery is applied, there are diseases such as uterine, cervical and ovarian cancers, removal of the uterus, urinary incontinence, uterine prolapse, removal of fibroids, endometriosis and removal of ovarian cysts. While robotic surgery is increasingly used in the surgical treatment of gynecological diseases, especially in the North American continent; Approximately 30-40% of all closed uterine surgeries are performed by robotic method. The application of robotic surgery in gynecological diseases by specialists and experienced physicians is of great importance in terms of a healthy outcome of the treatment.
Robotic Surgery Applications in Cardiovascular Surgery
Robotic surgery, which is the most advanced technology that surgery has reached in the medical world, can also be used in heart surgeries. While the camera system provides a two-dimensional image to the surgeon in the minimally invasive (small incision) method, it provides a three-dimensional, enlarged and clear image in the robotic method. However, robotic surgery performed by making much smaller incisions (2-3 cm) than the minimally invasive incisions (6-7 cm), coronary artery bypass surgery, congenital heart surgeries, arrhythmia surgeries, heart valve surgeries, heart hole surgery and intracardiac tumors used for extraction. This method, which is successfully applied by experienced specialist surgeons, has advantages such as protecting the integrity of the chest wall, less respiratory system problems, less bleeding, shorter hospital stay, better cosmetic results, and faster return to daily life.
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