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Kendall Securro
Mrs. DeBock
English 4 Honors
13 October 2015
Robotics in the Operating Room
The use of modern-era robots, which possess skills unmatched by humans, provide a
much more positive health care experience for patients rather than those who chose to vie for
traditional open surgeries. Minimally invasive surgery in the thoracic cavity has come a long
way since first pioneered. It has rapidly changed into complex procedures that allow for the
removal of tumors from within intricate areas of the body. Now becoming more widely accepted
because of todays technological advances, VATS (Video-assisted thoracic surgery) offers many
benefits over the traditional open thoracotomy. According to Arvind Kumar, patients of a VATS
often report having less postoperative pain, which also leads to less of a dependence on narcotic
drugs for killing pain. Many argue robotic-assisted surgery is more expensive than traditional
surgery, however, that cost is often offset by the cause of a lessened hospital stay. Combined
with quicker return to work, and less scar tissue on the body (a better cosmetic appearance)
robotic surgeries are becoming a more viable method for the future.
Patients diagnosed with rectal cancer are now benefitting from this minimally invasive
surgery technique as well using the laparoscopic approach, it has also been supported with its use
in randomized trials to be oncologically safe. Many perioperative outcomes show to be
beneficial, being that rather than open surgery, use of the TME (Total Mesorectal Excision) has

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shown to yield a shorter length of stay, earlier return of bowel function, better cosmetic
appearance, and less of a requirement for an analgesic. Ajit Pai describes limitations
laparoscopic surgery being a two-dimensional vision, surgeons were only confined to the
television screen they viewed the images. This was also coupled with restricted instrument
motion, as well as a lengthy learning curve to be able to translate surgical moves on a screen to
what needs to happen inside the body. Now, robotic surgery has evolved into precise tools with
three-dimensional magnified optics, a stable retraction platform, and seven degrees of free
instrument movement to offer significant benefits.
Robotic surgery with its combined advantages is still in its expansion phase, the best of
which is still to come. The suturing ease coupled with motion scaling features make these million
dollar surgeons second to none. Using these features allow greater precision, which has led to
widespread use in different surgeries. The increasing numbers of procedures being performed
have also showed trends in improved patient outcomes. India is readily accepting and embracing
these new surgical innovations. The number of robotic platforms being purchased for use in
health care facilities in India is increasing, corresponding with the increase in demand of the
same machines by the patients.
The use of robotic surgery is not to replace surgeons but to assist in the operating room.
Though they are robots, they are not autonomous and only used to lessen the work of
surgeons. For example, the instrument manipulate more intuitive by eliminating the fulcrum
effect, which removes the surgeon from twisting and turning in awkward positions. These
innovative machines have been used to increase patient care by making more precise and more
minimal invasive incisions. Surgical robots are computer-assisted electromechanical devices that

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aid surgeons and are designed to replicate human movements into more steady precise motions,
giving more accurate and delicate operations. Smaller incisions give faster recovery, leave
smaller scars, decrease blood loss, as well as decrease the use of pain medication. Additionally,
the reducing of scars with robot assisted surgeries has shown a decrease of blood loss. From this
article we can determine that the benefits of advancement in technical features of robotic cardiac
surgery outweigh the barriers.
In 2005 the Da Vinci Surgical System was approved by the FDA for use in operating
rooms around the world. Since then, it has been quickly adopted and has already assumed an
important role at various health care centers where this robotic method is available. The system
is comprised of three components; a surgeons console, a patient-side cart with four robotic arms,
and a high-definition three-dimensional vision system. Gynecological surgical procedures have
taken this surgery robot and allowed it to play a key role in many complex procedures.
Throughout the U.S. various robotic-assisted laparoscopic benign gynecological procedures like
myomectomy, hysterectomy, endometriosis, tubal anastomosis, and sacrocolpopexy are being
performed with the Da Vinci. In the present time, most studies do not give significant advantage
over conventional laparoscopic surgery in benign gynecological disease. However, robotics does
give an edge in more complex surgeries.
The use of modern-era robots, which possess skills unmatched by humans, provide a
much more positive health care experience for patients rather than those who chose to vie for
traditional open surgeries. Patients who opt for laparoscopic surgery also have a new option with
advances in robotics. Machines such as the DaVinci Surgery Robot offer an unparalleled
treatment plan that benefits patients more than ever. The system, consisting of of three

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components; a surgeons console, a patient-side cart with four robotic arms, and a high-definition
three-dimensional vision system allow for greater maneuverability and precision than a human
surgeon alone. Though they are robots, these new tools are not autonomous and are only used
to lessen the work of surgeons. Smaller incisions give faster recovery, leave smaller scars,
decrease blood loss, as well as decrease the use of pain medication. Faster recoveries allow
people to be up and walking within hours, meaning same day check-outs are becoming more
prevalent. Shorter stays offset the cost of this slightly more expensive method making it possible
for everyday application. Developing from laparoscopic surgery methods, robotic-assisted
surgery that utilizes the laparoscopic approach allows for a much safer and enjoyable
hospitalization experience for patients.

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Works Cited
Ashford, Heath, et al. "Use Of Robots On Cardiac Surgery." Insights To A Changing World
Journal 2014.4 (2014): 38-47. Academic Search Complete. Web. 23 Sept. 2015.
Desai, Mahesh, Jaspreet Chabra, and Arvind P. Ganpule. "Robotic Surgery Is Ready For Prime
Time In India: For The Motion." Journal Of Minimal Access Surgery 11.1 (2015): 24. Academic Search Complete. Web. 23 Sept. 2015.
Fullick, A. (2006). Frontiers of surgery. Chicago, Illinois: Heinemann Library.
Kumar, Arvind, and Belal Bin Asaf. "Robotic Thoracic Surgery: The State Of The Art." Journal
Of Minimal Access Surgery 11.1 (2015): 60-67. Academic Search Complete. Web. 23
Sept. 2015.
Pai, Ajit, et al. "Current Status Of Robotic Surgery For Rectal Cancer: A Bird's Eye
View." Journal Of Minimal Access Surgery 11.1 (2015): 29-34. Academic Search
Complete. Web. 23 Sept. 2015.
Sinha, Rooma, et al. "Robotic Surgery In Gynecology." Journal Of Minimal Access Surgery 11.1
(2015): 50-59. Academic Search Complete. Web. 23 Sept. 2015.