Is robotic surgery the next frontier of invasive medical care?

Robotic technology has opened quite a few doors for improved cancer treatment and treatment in various surgical specialities like urology, gynaecology, thoracic surgery, general surgery and even head and neck surgery.

Robotic surgery uses computer technology in association with robotic systems to conduct medical and surgical procedures. A surgeon uses a guiding console to conduct the surgeries in robotic surgery, making most of these procedures quite non-invasive. This means that most procedures can be done with just a single incision point into the body.

Advantage of robotic surgeries

The console used in robotic surgeries generally consists of miniaturised surgical instruments on robotic arms along with a magnified 3D camera.

The surgeon manipulates the instruments through finger-operated master controls, and the miniaturised tools allow for greater precision in the procedure, with increased control and dexterity of movement.

The camera offers clearer visualisation of the operating field, leading to lesser chances of error and postoperative readmission. What's more, the surgeon could potentially be anywhere in the world while doing surgery. He doesn't need to be in the same room.

The patients also have some great advantages from robot-assisted surgery. Since robotic surgery is non-invasive, the procedure is often less painful, with smaller incisions that leads to a lesser chance of infection and minimal scarring.

What's more, the recovery time is reduced, leading to a lesser hospitalisation period. Moreover, considering the improved precision, the chances of complications are also reduced. Furthermore, blood loss is also reduced, leading to a lesser need for blood transfusions and the possibility of infections.

The cost-effectiveness of robotic surgery

Robotic surgery involves a large initial investment of around Rs. 7,63,26,500 to Rs. 15,26,50,00 to purchase and set up the equipment required. Moreover, there will also be an annual maintenance cost of approximately Rs. 1,90,81,250. Additionally, robotic surgery requires limited use of instruments like shears, needle drivers, forceps, etc., that need to be changed every ten surgeries. This is as opposed to open surgeries, where the instruments can be reused as many times as necessary. Doctor loans available in the market come with various features, making them a great way to procure this initial investment.

However, reports show that the overall costs for hospitals are greatly reduced with robotics. Moreover, it is sometimes possible for the hospital to get back their initial investment for robotics after just 90 surgeries being conducted. It is also cost-effective for patients because their recovery time and overall hospital stay are reduced greatly, saving them a lot of money.