1. Is Robot Surgery & Robot Assisted Surgery the same?
Yes, #RobotAssistedSurgery is the correct technical term for the Surgery performed using a surgical robot, other terms being #RoboticSurgery
2. Does Robot perform surgery on its own?
No, The robot is an intelligent machine where a computer and a special purpose software are integrated with surgical instruments. The computer needs orders & inputs from the Surgeons’ hands, whose movements are then replicated in the patient.
3. Is it a single machine?
No, As opposed to Humanoid Robots which are a unibody Robots, the Surgical robots would usually have 3 parts – The Surgeon Console, The patient Cart and the Vision Cart. Its big enough to need a large room.
4. How is Robot Assisted Surgery different from #Laparoscopic Surgery?
The instruments in Laparoscopic Surgery are handled directly by the surgeons with a limited range of movements & limited vision capabilities. A #SurgicalRobot allows far greater maneuverability and better vision to perform surgeries with great ease and unbelievable precision.
5. How is Robot Assisted Surgery beneficial then Laparoscopic Surgery?
Due to better vision, improved ergonomics & matchless maneuverability surgeries which were considered difficult or nearly impossible with Laparoscopic Surgery are now very much possible & the conventional routine Laparoscopic Surgeries have become easier with better outcomes.
6. Which Surgeries are performed by #RoboticSurgery?
Cavitatory Surgeries involving organs in the Abdomen & Chest are performed routinely. However Thyroid surgeries have been done trans orally.
7. What is the name of the Robot?
The most famous and widely used surgical robot platform is #daVinciXi by #Intuitive Surgical is the latest version
8. How many cuts would I get in Robotic Surgery?
Usually 3 or 4 cuts 8mm cuts would be needed for a robotic Surgery depending on the arms used. More than 4 cuts might be needed if additional assistant ports are used.
9. Since when are Robot Assisted Surgery being performed?
Its been over 2 decades that Robotic surgeries are being performed. Safety & feasibility of this platform has been extensively studied & improvised to near-perfection.
10. How costly is Robotic Surgery?
Robotic Surgery involves usage of disposable instruments with limited life. This makes the recurring cost of the robot a significant proportion of the expenses. One should expect a minimum of INR 1L (1300 USD) to INR 2L (2600 USD) above the conventional routine Laparoscopic Surgery cost.