Robotic Revolution in Surgery

Written by Sai Koppada

With new technology being created every day, our once-limited view of medicine has reached new limits. New surgical procedures, safety measures, and research have allowed us to break past various limitations in medicine. We have been able to overcome boundaries such as lowering the mortality rate and limiting post-operative complications.

The most recent revolution in medicine, more specifically, surgery, has come from the incorporation of robotics. By using technology like the Da Vinci Surgical system we’ve been able to accomplish many great things. Some of these accomplishments include reducing operative time, blood loss, infection, and recovery time. Though the technology itself was created in 1999, it has undergone significant developments and is starting to make a more frequent appearance in the medical field today. Throughout history medicine has undergone many changes, it first started as open surgery with minimal sanitation and high mortality rates and eventually evolved to safer methods. From there, more precise methods of surgery like laparoscopy were created and used cameras and incisions on the body to aid in safer surgery. After undergoing more advancements, we now have robotic surgery that has limited the number of incisions we need to make, the time it takes, and the chance for error.

In the 21st century where robotics can be found everywhere, the Da Vinci system has made a significant impact on surgery as a whole. This machine is made up of robotic arms that allow surgeons to operate on a patient with more precision and accuracy; the new system enables surgeons to limit the human error that could occur. In the past, most cases of laparoscopic and open surgery meant that the surgeon had to stand beside the operating table for hours on end, where every tremor or shake in the surgeon’s hand could cause irreversible damage to the patient. But with this new technology, the device limits any unwanted movement and makes it so that each movement is precise and intentional. Additionally, the machine also allows the surgeon to have a much clearer visual when they’re operating, making the surgery much faster and more precise. The advanced system also offers a wider range of motion and tools for the surgeon to utilize. The mechanical arms of the machine follow the surgeon's hand movements and allow the surgeon to manipulate the instruments with more ease and flexibility. Despite these benefits, there are a few complications with the machinery such as availability and the financial cost.

Overall, this new advancement has allowed surgeons to perform procedures with much more precision and has indirectly led to lower mortality by helping lower blood loss, infection, and unintentional accidents. Even though robotic surgery has been enhanced multiple times, there is still extensive research being done to improve it even more. The incorporation of robotics and machines such as the Da Vinci have changed the medical field for the better and lowered some of the risks associated with surgery. The incorporation of this system offers many benefits for both the patient and the surgeon.

Written by Sai Koppada from MEDILOQUY