Quick – imagine an operating room! If you’ve ever had surgery or even seen one on TV, you might have a pretty clear idea of what it looks like. In all likelihood, you thought of a sterile room with a small army of surgeons and nurses, an anesthesiologist, a myriad of tools, an operating table, and, of course, a patient. It’s a ubiquitous image, but it may be about to change due to the advent of robotic surgery.

For years, surgeons have performed operations that require an extremely steady hand to perform correctly, and, in the cases of laparoscopic surgeries, they may even have to learn entirely new fine motor skills in order to complete the necessary work. Minimally invasive surgeries are often preferable to their open surgery counterparts due to the faster healing times and decreased risk of complications stemming from surgery. However, as surgeons began to use fine tools to complete these operations, they noted the limitations of the techniques. Shaky hands and poor visibility could complicate surgeries and place the patient at risk. In response to these concerns, various researchers developed robotic solutions that pair a surgeon’s knowledge and expertise with electric tools that surpass human abilities in vision and stabilization. Marrying the two may seem like something out of a science fiction movie, but it may well be the future of surgery.

One of the many benefits of robotic surgery is that it significantly cuts down on the number of people needed in the operating room from almost a dozen to four or five – the surgeon, the anesthesiologist, a nurse (possibly two), and, of course, the patient. This could not only drastically reduce the cost of surgery, but it could also make surgery possible in even the most far-flung places in the world. Consider that a surgeon can already operate on a patient from another room because he or she is using a computer console for the surgery. Perhaps in the coming years, doctors will be able to operate on people located far away, possibly around the world. There may be issues with a delay from the time a surgeon moves his or her hand to the time the surgical arm moves, but the possibility is intriguing for people looking to improve health care in the developing world. Plus, robotic surgery is, in general easier on the body, so it can reduce the time a patient needs to heal and return to his or her normal life.

You might wonder if having a mechanical interface between the surgeon and the patient will have negative repercussions. Of course, any new technology is bound to come with a set of issues specific to the system, and robotic surgery arms are no different. For one, the surgeon will not have the benefit of touching a patient’s tissues during a surgery, which is often useful for both judging force and for examining certain materials, such as tumors. Perhaps the most pressing issue is directly caused by the current boom in robotic surgeries. The technology is at the center of the latest rush to have the best, most state-of-the-art equipment in the OR in order to give surgeons an edge over others who don’t have the equipment. However, in the rush to transition to robotic surgery, sometimes surgeons haven’t had enough practice operating the machinery to be as proficient as they might be with their hands. It’s a skill that takes some time to learn, but fortunately, due to the nature of the equipment, surgeons can run simulations to practice. Just remember that if you’re preparing for an operation that utilizes robotic equipment, you need to be sure that your doctor of choice has some pertinent experience under his or her belt.

Peg Smith is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Ms. Smith is able to offer advice on a variety of topics, including those pertaining to health.

Peg Smith is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/laser-spine-institute-partners-with-marodyne-medical-to-offer-the-latest-in-low-intensity-vibration-science-2013-02-19

Author Bio: Peg Smith is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Ms. Smith is able to offer advice on a variety of topics, including those pertaining to health.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: surgery, robotic surgery, medical technology, medical advances