Robotic Cancer Surgery
What is Robotic Surgery for Cancer Treatment?
For some types of cancers, traditional open surgery may not be the best option. With robotic surgery, specially trained surgeons use robotic technology, including tiny surgical tools and a computer console, to remove a patient’s cancer.
Robotic surgery is usually laparoscopic. During surgery, the surgeon places a thin tool with a light and tiny camera called a laparoscope through small cuts in the patient’s skin. The laparoscope sends images back to a video monitor so the surgeon can see inside without having to make larger cuts.
Robotic surgery is also known as robot-assisted surgery. The robot-assisted and 3-D imaging technology allows surgeons to perform complex surgeries with more precision than conventional techniques.
In general, surgeons have two main goals when they perform cancer surgery:
- Fighting the patient’s cancer in the most effective way possible.
- Making the patient’s recovery as fast and smooth as possible.
A patient’s type and stage of cancers, as well as their prognosis, also help establish goals for the surgery. Depending on your exact situation, possible goals for surgery could be:
- Curing the cancer by completely removing the tumor.
- Reducing (debulking) the tumor’s size to prepare for chemotherapy or other treatment.
- Relieving symptoms like pain or loss of function.
Your surgeon will determine whether robotic surgery is possible for your particular cancer. If so, your surgeon may recommend robotic surgery over open surgery. Your surgeon will design a surgical treatment plan that’s best for you. Expect your doctor to explain the treatment plan fully and answer all your questions.
Benefits of Robotic Cancer Surgery:
In general, robotic surgery is as safe as conventional surgery. It may even be safer than conventional surgery for extremely involved operations like the robotic Whipple procedure.
Many surgeons find that the robotic arm lets them increase the precision and control of their movements during surgery. The robotic system’s high-definition, 3-D viewer also lets surgeons see the surgical site better than with conventional magnification.
You may also experience a smoother recovery with robotic surgery. The benefits of robotic surgery can include:
- Smaller incisions
- Less scarring
- Reduced pain and blood loss
- Shortened hospital stays
- These benefits tend to be the most pronounced with complex cancer surgeries.
Cancers we treat with robotic surgery:
- Colorectal. Robotic surgery is often ideal for treating colon cancer and rectal cancer since these conditions typically require complex surgery.
- Gynecologic. Gynecological surgeons have vast experience in applying robotic surgery to a number of gynecological cancers.
- Head and neck. Surgeons have developed new techniques using assistive robots to access hard-to-reach head and neck tumors. Surgeons can now reach many tumors through the natural mouth opening via transoral robotic surgery (TORS). This avoids the need for external incisions through the face and jaw.
- Pancreatic. Precision Plus Hospital is one of the Punes most experienced centers for robotic Whipple surgery for pancreatic cancer. Our team also has expertise in robotic surgery for liver and bile duct cancers.
- Thoracic (Esophageal and Lung).At Precision Plus Hospital, we treat esophageal cancer, lung cancer, thymus, and other mediastinal (middle chest) tumors using minimally advanced invasive robotic surgery.
- Thyroid. When Precision Plus surgeons treat thyroid cancers with robotic surgery, the result is usually prompt healing with no visible scarring.
- Urologic (Prostate). At Precision Plus Hospital, robotic surgery has become a standard technique of urologic surgery for conditions like prostate cancer.
What to Expect After Surgery?
After your surgery, you will wake up in the hospital’s recovery area. Your nurse will wheel you to a hospital room once you reach certain clinical milestones.
The course of your recovery will depend on many factors, like your type of cancer and specific surgery. Although robotic surgery often shortens hospital stays, expect to stay overnight in the hospital at a minimum. Your doctor will let you know how long your hospital stay might last.
At every point, you have the right to ask questions about your care. You will make decisions in partnership with your doctor as your condition permits.