With every aspect of healthcare advancing, it has been no different for the way surgeries are performed in India. Until now, surgeons had the option of performing an open incision or a laparoscopy surgery that is highly dependent on the surgeon’s hand-skills. But now, a new wave of robotic surgery is taking a surge in India. It is a new category of minimally invasive surgery using the da Vinci® Surgical System that offers an effortless way of performing complex surgical procedures.

The da Vinci Surgical System is a robotic surgical system made by the American company Intuitive Surgical. It has been recently approved by FDA in 2000 for an extensive range of surgeries. Post that, it has been implemented across hundreds of locations globally. It is named da Vinci in part because the first robot was invented by  Leonardo da Vinci.

It is the latest advanced platform for minimally invasive surgery. It has been increasingly replacing the outdated open surgery and conservative laparoscopy by putting the surgeon’s skills right on an advanced robotic platform. The system cannot be automated and cannot operate on its own. It requires direct input from your surgeon to perform every surgical move.

5 main parts of a robotic surgical system

1. Surgeon’s Console – Surgeon sits here and operates robots. This console also has the video output from where the robotic surgeon can view the inner part of patient’s body.

2. Image Processing Equipment – It’s a video output to see the ongoing surgery of the anesthesiologist, other doctors, and nurse.
3. Patented Endowrist Instruments – They are the human wrist like instruments to provide superior motion control, precision, and fluid ambidexterity.
4. Surgical Arm Cart – They are robotic hands acts like human arms
5. Hi-Resolution 3-D Endoscope – A high definition 3-D camera is placed at its end that goes within the body of the patient through a separate incision.

Here’s what makes Da Vinci robotic surgery unique

• With just 1-2cm of the incision, this revolutionary technology equips the surgeon with control, capability, and precision that comes with traditional open surgery.
• The methodical and robotic approach of the Da Vinci technology has reduced the possibility of errors both by human and machine
• It has a magnified high-definition 3D vision system, that equips the surgeon with a perfect wide view of what is happening inside the body
• The interactive robotic arms of the machine can be wristed and bend at a greater angle than any human hand
• The ergonomic design of the dual-console enables the possibility of both training and collaborating during an invasive surgery

Surgeons have an option to choose from a variety of instrument types that allows them to perform specific surgical tasks with great rigor and control

Da Vinci surgical system enables minimal invasive surgeries for the following

• Heart Valve Disease
• Kidney cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• Achalasia (Swallowing disorder)
• Gall Bladder disorders
• Fibroid Tumour
• Endometriosis
• Ulcerative Colitis

Preparation for the Surgery: Using an MRI or CT scan, the exact position of the invasion site is found and estimated, following which the reports are set into the Da Vinci system for enhanced precision

During the surgery

• The patient is asked to lie on their back followed by an incision of 1-2cm at the target location that is done using a robotic arm. The robotic arm functions on the directions fed by the surgeon.

• The surgeon directs the robotic arms of the machine, by sitting at the console.
• He accesses the target anatomy using accurately controlled EndoWrist instruments
• He completes the surgery using short and precise hand movements
• The surgeon’s hand, wrist and finger movements are translated into precise movements by the da Vinci system making use of miniaturized instruments at the patient-side cart, all happening in real-time

After the surgery: The main benefit is the reduced time to return back to normal life which is possible through this surgery, unlike any other traditional methods.

Benefits of Da Vinci Surgical System

For patients: Robotic-assisted surgery is performed through very small incisions. It offers numerous benefits to the patients as follows:

• Significantly less pain
• Decreased blood loss
• Minimal scarring
• Shorter recovery times
• Shorter hospital stays
• Reduced risk of infection.
• Reduced risk of complications
• Increased range of motion
• A faster return to normal daily activities

For surgeons:

• 10 times magnification
• Computerised 3D visualization giving increased profundity
• Increased precision because of automation
• Endo-wrist improve range of movement
• Ergonomically designed keeping in mind surgeon’s comfort, while he sits in the console that is equipped with an armrest
• Improved access
• Improved dexterity

da Vinci Xi Surgical System

da Vinci Xi is the latest frontier in minimally invasive surgeries optimized for complex, multi-quadrant surgery and simpler, singular-quadrant surgery. Fortis Hospital Bannerghatta Road is the only hospital in the state of Karnataka which has da Vinci Xi surgical system. Following treatments are offered at Fortis Hospital Bannerghatta Road using da Vinci surgical system

• Prostate Cancer & Treatment – da Vinci Prostatectomy – Radical Prostatectomy
• Uterine Conditions & Treatment – da Vinci Hysterectomy
• Uterine Fibroids Treatment – Myomectomy
• Minimally Invasive General Surgeries
• Obesity & Treatment Options – da Vinci Gastric Bypass Surgery
• Mitral Valve Prolapse & Treatment – Mitral Valve Repair

Indeed, robotic surgery has revolutionized the world of surgery with its amazing benefits and is increasingly being used for more and more procedures. Days are not far off when surgical robots will soon become ubiquitous in most Indian hospitals increasing access to millions of patients countrywide.