Surgical Robot Oncology Surgeries

Surgical robotics is a new technique in minimally invasive surgery that is becoming increasingly popular globally; it helps surgeons perform surgical procedures on hard-to-reach areas of the human body with ease, compared to traditional open surgical techniques and laparoscopy. Patients benefit from minimal scarring, low blood loss, rapid recovery, minimal wound-related complications, and reduced hospital stay.

Surgical robot oncology surgeries do not mean that a robot work alone. It means the surgeon uses a surgical robot that includes one or more robotic arms and controls them remotely and precisely through a console. The robotic arms require direct input from the surgeon and cannot work without human intervention.

One arm of the robot contains a laparoscope. The other arms hold small surgical instruments that can be inserted into an incision of fewer than 2 centimeters. The surgeon sits in front of a screen that provides a three-dimensional view of the tumor, holding a joystick that precisely controls all the robotic arms, mimicking wrist and hand movements keenly. The surgical robot offers many benefits to patients and surgeons alike. The surgical robot combines the precision of open surgery with the advantages of laparoscopic surgery to provide minimally invasive treatment with better outcomes.

How does a surgical robot work?
Robotic surgery is a modern, minimally invasive technique that uses special tools to make small incisions, as well as a small camera that provides 3D images. It magnifies these images up to 10 times their actual size. This allows to see what is happening more clearly, guide the instruments more precisely, and potentially save more healthy tissue. A surgical robot is useful for complex surgeries in small spaces.
The surgical robot allows the surgeon to work through small incisions, using tools that mimic wrist movement. In addition, an advanced high-resolution camera allows the surgeon to see vital organs in three dimensions, so delicate nerves, muscles, and blood vessels can be carefully protected.

How is a surgical robot used to treat cancer?
For some cancers, traditional open surgery may not be the best option. Surgical robotics offers a minimally invasive alternative to open surgery for cancer patients and, in some cases, may reduce or eliminate the need for chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Specially trained surgeons and one of the best, Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam, Assistant Professor of General and Laparoscopic Surgery and Consultant for Bariatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine at Kasr El-Ainy, use robotic technology, including small surgical instruments and a computer console, to remove hard-to-reach tumors and shorten the surgery time and reduce the side effects for patients compared to traditional surgery.
Robotic surgery is usually laparoscopic. During the procedure, the surgeon inserts a thin instrument equipped with a small, lighted camera, called a laparoscope, through small incisions in the patient's skin. The laparoscope sends images back to a video screen, allowing the surgeon to see inside without needing to make a larger incision.

The imaging technology of robotic surgery and three-dimensional visualization allows Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam to perform complex surgical procedures with greater precision than traditional techniques. Generally, cancer surgery aims to:
1. Fighting cancer in the most effective possible way through the following options:
• Treating cancer by removing the tumor completely.
• Reduce the size of the tumor to prepare for chemotherapy or another treatment.
• Relieve symptoms such as pain or loss of function.
2. Make the patient's recovery as quick and smooth as possible.
After a thorough examination of each case, Dr. Ahmed Abd El Salam determines whether a surgical robot can be used to treat the tumor instead of open surgery.

Benefits of robotic surgery:
In general, robotic surgery is safer than traditional surgery, especially in complicated cancer surgeries, and offers many advantages, including:
• Extended range of motion: A surgical robot offers more precision and a greater range of motion than laparoscopic surgery, allowing the surgeon to perform procedures in hard-to-reach parts of the body and have a comprehensive view of areas that are difficult to see, such as the pelvic region and the diaphragm area.
• Greater surgical precision: Surgical robot arms allow the surgeon to have more precision and control over their movements during surgery, thereby improving the ability to preserve healthy tissue unaffected by cancer.
• Improve skillfulness: Reduce surgeon fatigue and eliminate hand tremors during long and complex procedures.
• Enhanced imaging: A high-resolution three-dimensional view of the robotic system allows the surgeon to see the surgical site better than traditional magnification, including areas that may not be visible to the naked eye.

Advantages of Robotic Oncology Surgeries:
• Smoother recovery through surgical robotics.
• Smaller incisions.
• Less scarring.
• Reduced pain and blood loss.
• Shorten the length of hospitalization.
• Lower risk of infection.