History Of Robotic Surgery
While "robotic surgery" may sound like a futuristic surgical technique for
improving surgical outcomes, it has actually been an evolution spanning over
two decades. Robotics were first introduced into surgery in 1987 with the first
laparoscopic surgery, a cholescystecotomy. Since then, numerous procedures
have been performed laparoscopically as technology and the skills of the
surgeons have developed. This surgery is known as minimally invasive as
incisions are smaller, there is less risk of infection, hospital stays are shorter,
and recuperation is reduced. However, there are also drawbacks to minimally
invasive surgery. The equipment requires a surgeon to move the instruments
while watching a video monitor. The surgeon must move in the opposite
direction from the target on the monitor to interact with the correct area on the
patient so hand-eye coordination, tactile and force feedback, and dexterity aren't
compromised. Other drawbacks of laparoscopic surgery include restricted
degrees of motion, decreased sense of touch, increased sensitivity to hand
movement. However, a major breakthrough was to come that would dramatically
improve laparoscopic procedures, and provide even great benefit to patients.
The da Vinci robotic surgery system utilized by
The Center for Robotic & Minimally Invansive Surgery at Ferrell-Duncan Clinic broke new
ground by becoming the first system approved by the FDA for general laparoscopic surgery
in 2000. That is to say that with the da Vinci system, for the first time the FDA approved a
system which is all-encompassing of surgical instruments and camera/scopic utensils. The
da Vinci system is truly a three dimensional magnification capable view screen which allows your surgeon
to view the incision area in the clarity of high resolution. The one centimeter diameter surgical
arms represent a significant advancement in robotic surgery from previous systems. With such
miniaturized operating arms, the da Vinci system has been able to remove the need for using the
tissue of the incision walls in the patient for leverage. This advancement allows for less contact
between exposed interior tissue and the surgical device, which greatly reduces risk of infection.
The "Endo-wrist" features of the operating arms on the da Vinci system replicate precisely the skilled
movements of the surgeon at its controls. This allows for highly precise movements within a small
operating space.
The end result of this remarkable inovation allows the
surgeons at The Center for Robotic and Minially Invasive Surgery in
Springfield, Missouri to provide patients a substantially better outcome
with faster recovery, less pain and discomfort, virtually no scarring,
and a much faster return to a active and healty lifestyle!
