Robotic Rectal Cancer Resection Surgery - In Detail About It!

Minimal invasive surgery for rectal cancers has gained immense popularity and acceptance over open surgery in the last decade. Modern laparoscopic surgery is associated with minimal blood loss and pain with better short-term outcomes. The procedure ensures a speedy recovery and a decreased hospital stay. However, laparoscopic surgery has also been linked to high conversion rates (up to 29%) to open surgery, and those who were converted showed suboptimal outcomes. 

To overcome the limitations of laparoscopic surgery, a relatively new technique was introduced – known as Robotic-assisted colorectal procedure with the Da Vinci technology. 

What is the Da Vinci Robotic Rectal Cancer Resection? 

The Da Vinci technology is an innovative surgical system that comprises of 3 components – the surgeon console, the patient cart, and the vision cart.

• The surgeon sits on the console during the procedure and regulates the instruments after getting a detailed three-dimensional view of the anatomy. The instruments move like the hand of a human, only with a greater range of motion, which allows the surgeon to perform the procedure more efficiently. 

• The patient cart rests on the operating table close to the patient. During the surgery, the used instruments move in real-time in response to the surgeon’s hand movements. 

• The vision cart allows the various components of the system to communicate between themselves and supports the new-age 3D HD vision system. 

How does the procedure work for rectal cancer?

Surgeons use the innovative Da Vinci technology to remove all or part of your rectum through a few incisions. The surgeon sits at a console table right next to the patient and operates using small, wristed movements. The technology precisely translates every hand movement the surgeon makes in real-time to rotate and bend the instruments. A 3D high-definition camera provides your surgeon with a magnified view inside the body. He/she may use fluorescence imaging – this activates injected dye to light up and show the flow of blood to the colon, thus offering visualization beyond the human eye. This may prove helpful during the procedure. 

Why Opt for Robotic Rectal Cancer Resection?

A review of studies published in recent times suggest the potential benefits of robotic rectal cancer resection surgery, which include –

• A shorter span of stay in the hospital, as compared to patients undergoing an open surgery or even a laparoscopic surgery

• Minimal risk of complications

The new-age Da Vinci technology has made robotic rectal surgeries feasible in a single-phase and a single docking without changing the robotic arms.