Robotic surgery: How will the medical industry revolutionize?

We are entering Blue November, a month aimed at raising awareness about human health and especially health. Tests needed for early detection of prostate cancer🇧🇷 Examinations for the detection of breast and prostate tumors, as in Pink October, are technically called “secondary” prevention.

This is because they do not prevent the tumor from appearing, but their early detection greatly improves the chances of control and disease-free survival.

What are the most used tests in cancer prevention?

For this secondary prevention of prostate tumor, some tests such as PSA measurement are routinely used. Prostate Specific Antigen) and, less often, ultrasound examination.

However, the most relevant test is the digital rectal exam, where the doctor can detect prostate diseases, especially its enlargement and the presence of changes suggestive of a tumor.

After the discovery of the tumor, when there is an indication, this is one of the most used treatments in prostate cancer cases, minimally invasive surgery – also known as robotic surgery🇧🇷 This important advance of modern science has made it the method of choice for removal of the prostate (radical prostatectomy) in the surgical treatment of this tumor.

As a general rule, surgeries are becoming less and less invasive for the vast majority of treatments. Today, heart valve replacement can now be done without opening the patient’s chest.

It all happens when a small tube (catheter) goes into the artery, groin area, or arm. This catheter is image-guided and reaches the heart for implantation of a new valve. For operations in the abdominal region, laparoscopy (surgery through small holes in the navel) is increasingly replacing laparotomy (surgery in which a large incision is made in the area to be operated on).

Laparoscopy for removal of prostate tumors was until recently the technique of choice to the detriment of laparotomy. However, in recent years, robotic surgery has gained great acceptance, especially for prostatectomy.

What is the development of robotic surgery and how has it been?

The development of robotic surgery was greatly promoted after the advent of the Internet, the main motivation was the need for distance operations where the doctor’s access to the patient was done remotely.

As in a video game, the surgeon uses the joysticks on the console, and at a distance, the robot’s arms perform movements commanded by the surgeon. Today, the connection between the console and the robot is still done with cables. due to the speed and instability of the internet, which can compromise the procedure. With the advent of 5G internet, some procedures (less complex and shorter duration) may already be possible with console and robot connected by WiFi.

This remote connection strategy was used once in Brazil. In 2000, Dr Anuar Miter, urology surgeon at Sírio-Libanês Hospital, performed an operation to treat varicocele (varicose veins in the testicular veins) and part of the procedure was performed remotely, demonstrating the feasibility of telesurgery.

In Sao Paulo, Dr. The patient at Anuar and Sírio-Libanês Hospital, Dr. Louis Kavoussi, Baltimore, United States. Connected remotely and via the Internet, Dr. Kavoussi turned the equipment on and adjusted, and Dr. Anuar followed the procedure in São Paulo.

So what are the advantages and developments of robotic surgery?

These are important questions that need to be answered for this technology to become routine practice. Current robots have mechanisms that improve surgical aspects such as control of movements and cutting angles – the robot’s “hands” do not have the range of motion limitations that human hands have.

With this there is a gain in the precision of movements. And in some cases, the possibility of telesurgery could be an advantage🇧🇷 Imagine, for example, an astronaut on the Space Station or on planned longer journeys, such as Mars. The possibility of collaboration between surgeons for the treatment of complex cases is a big bet.

Today, robotic surgery is widely used for prostate removal and several other procedures. However, it clearly does not provide advantages over other procedures. There is still a lot to work on and develop for the more widespread use of robotic surgery. In particular, the increase in costs from the use of robotics is justified and translates into benefits for the patient.

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