Advantages Of Robotic Assisted Surgery

Are robots better than educated surgeons?

Hypothesis:

Robots are better than Educated Surgeons because Robots perform calculated tasks whereas humans don’t. Humans are prone to making errors and not being precise in their actions.

Table 1:

The Strengths and Limitations of Surgeries Performed By Humans

Strengths Limitations

Strong hand-eye coordination Limited dexterity outside natural scale

Dextrous (at human scale) Prone to tremor and fatigue

Flexible and adaptable Limited geometric accuracy

Can incorporate extensive and diverse information Limited ability to use qualitative information

Fundamental abilities to touch and manipulate objects Large operating room space requirement

Able to use qualitative

Robotic Assisted Surgery:

a) The advantages of robotic assisted surgery are: 3-D visualisations are shown of the patient and the area where the surgeon is working. The robot has improved dexterity and seven degrees of freedom. The use of a robot eliminates the fulcrum effect and physiological tremors. The robot allows the surgeon to scale motions and Micro-anastomoses are possible. The robot slows for tele-surgery and is positioned ergonomically.

b) The disadvantages of robotic assisted surgery are: There is an absence of touch by the surgeon. The equipment and the surgery are very expensive. The equipment will be updated and new instruments need to be replaced after each surgery. There are high start-up costs and the robot may require extra staff to operate. The robot needs to be properly set up and this takes time. Because there are constant updates there will be new technology available which will cost even more. There are unproven benefits and unproven disadvantages which could cause errors and complications during surgery. The robot could malfunction unexpectedly and has been known to send electric pulses through the

Laparoscopic Surgery:

a) The advantages of Laparoscopic surgery are: Laparoscopic surgeries have well-developed technologies that have been tested. Laparoscopic surgery is affordable and there are many people who specialise and are trained to perform it. There has been proven efficacy. Shorter hospital stay, increase rate of postoperative activities. Smaller wounds and minimal scaring and the patient will have less pain.

b) The Disadvantages of Laparoscopic surgery are: that there is only 2-D visualisation. There is a loss of touch sensation and a limited degree of motion and freedom. There is a fulcrum effect and there is an amplification of physiological tremor. Due to the Laparoscope entering the abdominal cavity the patient could have irritable boule syndrome.

3. Open Surgery:

a) The advantages of Open or Traditional Surgery are: the medical team can see everything that they need to especially if the condition has gotten worse the surgeons can see exactly what is going