Robot-Assisted Surgery Health Article

Definition

Robot-assisted surgery involves the use of a robot under the direction and guidance of a surgeon.

Purpose

Robot-assisted surgery provides many benefits in the surgical care of patients. Computer-assisted robots provide exact motion and trajectories to minimize the side-effects of surgical intervention. Surgeon-guided robotics allow the surgeon to access patient anatomy with smaller incisions.

Demographics

Patients undergoing surgical procedures classified as neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, radio surgery and radiotherapy, prostatectomy, endoscopy, laparoscopy, cardiac surgery and craniofacial surgery may experience robot-assisted surgical techniques.

Neurosurgery

A high level of accuracy is required when operating on the brain to avoid damage to the sensitive brain tissue. Biopsies and minor interventions are best assisted by the robotic device. Interventions include drilling into the skull and making an incision through the dura mater to gain brain tissue samples, empty cysts, or eliminate hemorrhage.

Orthopedic surgery

Applications such as cementless hip-replacement, total knee arthroplasties, and pedicle screw placement can benefit for the more accurate cutting and drilling provided by a robot. Femur bone-cutting devices provide improved drilling to carve a cavity in the bone for prosthesis implant. Pins inserted into the bone before surgery are used as landmarks for computerized tomography (CT) imaging. The CT image provides the surgeon with the necessary information for choosing an implant. The surgeon removes the head from the femur bone, eliminating the joint. The leg is secured in position and the robot is brought into position. A high speed cutter is then applied to create the cavity, and then followed by a smoothing tool. The surgeon manually inserts the implant into the femur and completes the cap implant into the pelvic bone.

Radiosurgery and radiotherapy

Radiation treatment is provided by a robot. The CT image or magnetic resonance image (MRI) is used to determine where the radiation treatment should be delivered. The robot aligns with patient anatomy, delivering specific doses of radiation to the intended location.

Prostatectomy

Removal of all or part of the prostate is another robot-assisted procedure. The robot controls instruments inserted through the urethra to the prostate gland. A diathermic hot wire cutting loop is guided to remove tissue in an appropriate pattern around the urethra. Fastening the guiding frame to the upper legs of the patient secures the device for accurate guidance.