A generous grant from the Richard S. and Karen LeFrak Charitable Foundation will enable New-York Presbyterian to establish the LeFrak Center For Robotic Surgery. The grant will enable New York Presbyterian to purchase it's third da Vinci surgical robot. The main focus of the center will be using robotic surgery for prostate cancer and other urologic conditions but will also support the use of robotic surgery in other fields including, ENT, obstetrics and opthamology.
The announcement proves once again that technology knows no bounds. So why would you want a robot to perform your procedure over a surgeon? Apparently a robot uses excellent dexterity and precision resulting in smaller incisions and shorter recovery times. The removal of prostate cancer via robot has specifically shown better patient outcomes.
Personally, I don't know. What if the robot malfunctioned?
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During some anesthesia clinicals that I was at during school, I was able to look through the imaging goggle of the robot during a procedure. It was truly unique experience. I could see at far greater angles around organs and structures than I could have with just my own eyes. I think this would help prevent accidental nicks of other structures during the procedure. There is usually a tech person available on site for malfunctions at immediate availability to the surgeon who isn’t trained in repairs only how to operate the robot. However this does also mean increase OR time until the physician is skilled at the use of the robot which under a seasoned robot using physician is I think supposed to actually decrease OR time.
Smaller incisions, less scarring and faster healing
Dr. Menon and the surgeons at the Vattikuti Urology Institute are experienced innovators in the use of robotic surgery in improving patient care. We offer the following procedures. Please contact usif you have any questions!
Kidney
• Robotic Partial Nephrectomy:
Robotic surgery to remove a kidney tumor while preserving the remaining kidney (also called renal-sparing surgery).
Click HERE for more information
• Robotic Radical Nephrectomy:
Robotic surgery to remove the entire kidney for large tumors or disease.
Click HERE for more information
• Robotic Pyeloplasty:
Repair of the blockage in the area where the ureter attaches to the kidney.
• Robotic Nephroureterectomy:
Removal of the kidney and ureter for transitional cell carcinoma involving the kidney or ureter.
• Robotic Pyelolithotomy:
Removal of large kidney stones that fail treatment by other methods
• Robotic Renal Cyst Decortication:
Removal of kidney cysts that sometimes cause pain or high blood pressure.
Bladder
• Robotic Radical Cystectomy:
Robotic surgery to remove the bladder for large tumors or disease.
Click HERE for more information
Technically Advance Procedure for Patient Benifit
At the Vattikuti Urology Institute, our surgeons are among the only ones in the United States who routinely are using a retroperitoneal (behind the peritoneum) approach for robotic-assisted kidney surgery.
Henry Ford urologists believe this technically advanced approach offers significant advantages to the patient, including:
• Decreased risk of injury to bowel or other nearby organs
• Faster return of bowel function after surgery
• Reduced hospital stay (one day in healthy patients)
• Less postoperative pain and less need for pain medication
• Quicker return to normal activity and work
This approach is ideal for patients who have had prior abdominal surgery. Many patients who are having their kidneys removed or partially removed often times have had other abdominal surgeries, leaving them with significant abdominal scarring. By using the retroperitoneal approach, patients still can have a robotic-assisted surgery. It also is an ideal approach for a partial nephrectomy for patients with a tumor on the back side of the kidney that may be challenging to remove with an abdominal approach.
While I find technology and innovation important in medicine there is also a need for simultaneous rigorous investigation of these new techniques in order to prove their efficacy. Two issues are concerning with this thread. One is the first comment that the robot “replaces” the surgeon which is an often repeated misconception. The robot is an instrument that the surgeon uses to perform the surgery, just as the Gastroenterologist uses a scope to perform a colonoscopy. You still need a skilled surgeon to perform the operation. Some might argue you need to have a very skilled surgeon since they need to be able to perform both robotic and open surgical techniques if the procedure is not able to be performed robotically.
The second issue is the blatant use of this type of medium to advertise for a medical center that offers robotic surgery. The statements made in their comments are misleading and unproven without scientific merit. Unfortunately there is little that can be done to edit or control the tyoes of statements made in this way. Unfortunately the public is not made aware.