Robot-assisted treatment of intestinal diseases: Da Vinci system
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More than 7,000 Da Vinci robotic systems are available worldwide. Robot-assisted surgery is most commonly used in urology and gynecology. It has also become widespread in colorectal surgery and in the treatment of intestinal diseases, but it has not yet become the standard treatment for small bowel pathologies.
The essence of surgical procedures performed using the robot Da Vinci is that all manipulations are performed by robotic arms, which the surgeon controls using a remote control. Robotic surgery on the intestines has been performed in leading medical centers around the world for more than two decades. If you would like to take advantage of this service, you can find out prices and make your treatment appointment for your preferred dates on the Booking Health website.
Content
- Benefits compared to laparoscopy
- Minimally invasive cancer treatment
- Other areas of application
- Where can I get treatment?
Benefits compared to laparoscopy
Robot-assisted surgery requires several short incisions, just like conventional laparoscopic surgery. The surgical intervention is, however, more precise, the incisions are perfectly thin and even, and the robotic arms have more freedom in the patient's abdomen. They can reach any site, even the most difficult-to-reach ones. In addition, human hand tremors are eliminated, and the risk of complications due to human error is reduced.
The use of the Da Vinci system eliminates all the main disadvantages of laparoscopy, such as:
- Unstable and assistant-dependent imaging
- Limited freedom of instrument movement
- Increased tremor effect in the limited space of the small pelvis (when performing surgeries on the sigmoid and rectum)
Modern robotic surgery provides even better aesthetic results since the advent of single-port dvSP surgery. This port allows surgery to be performed through a single short abdominal incision instead of several. As a result, patients have less scarring on their body after surgery, which is especially important for women.
Minimally invasive cancer treatment
The main, most preferred, and often the only treatment for colorectal cancer is surgery. Part of the bowel with the tumor is removed, and in stages I-II this is sufficient for cure. Even at stages III-IV, surgery combined with other methods of treatment provides a good chance to completely cure the cancer, and for patients with incurable forms of cancer, it provides long-term survival rates.
Minimally invasive treatment is not inferior in effectiveness to open abdominal surgery, as confirmed by the CLASICC, COLOR II, and COREAN trials.
Most trials show that the results of treatment with the robot Da Vinci and conventional laparoscopic systems are the same. However, the Da Vinci surgical system offers advantages in patient safety and postoperative recovery time.
A comparison of the two techniques for bowel cancer shows the following advantages of robot-assisted surgery:
- More complete lymph node dissection (lymph node removal) is performed, which for some patients may result in improved oncologic outcomes in the form of lower bowel cancer recurrence rates
- Less blood loss
- Less need for blood transfusions
- Reduced frequency of diverting ileostomy
- Postoperative recovery for patients is more comfortable and takes less time
- Shorter hospital stays compared to those after laparoscopy
The ROLLAR trial showed that robotic surgery reduces the risk of an anastomotic leak (the place where the ends of the bowel are sutured together after the tumor is removed). In addition, the risk of converting minimally invasive surgery to open intervention is reduced.
Other areas of application
Although the main application of the Da Vinci system in coloproctology is colon cancer treatment, the surgical system can also be used for other interventions.
The Da Vinci system was first used for bowel surgery in 2001, and since then, more and more of these surgical procedures have been performed worldwide. It is used for the treatment of the following conditions:
- Benign bowel tumors
- Complications of Crohn's disease and necrotizing ulcerative colitis
- Closed abdominal injuries, with the possibility of simultaneous intervention on other abdominal organs
- Adhesive bowel obstruction
- Diverticular disease
- Acute appendicitis
- Abdominal hernias
- Any intestinal diseases that require its partial removal (both left and right hemicolectomy can be successfully performed with the help of a robot surgeon)
Patients undergoing operations on the rectum, sigmoid colon, and descending colon receive the maximum benefits from robotic surgery.
Where can I get treatment?
The robot Da Vinci allows for safer surgical procedures, faster and more comfortable recovery, and excellent results. If you would like to take advantage of this cutting-edge treatment for colorectal cancer and other bowel diseases, you can travel abroad.
There are several reasons for you to seek medical help from a foreign hospital:
- Physicians in developed countries use new generations of Da Vinci systems for surgical treatment of pathologies of the digestive tract
- The specialists who perform such surgeries have extensive experience, and many surgeons have been using robotic systems for 10-15 years or more
- Surgeries of any complexity can be performed
- Surgeons at specialized centers perform surgical interventions not only on the large intestine but also on the small intestine
- At stages III-IV of colorectal cancer, foreign surgeons perform combined operations using the Da Vinci robotic system, which involves the simultaneous removal of several tumors in different organs
Although the use of the robot Da Vinci increases the cost of treatment compared to conventional laparoscopy, this procedure is in demand among medical tourists. The Booking Health website presents advanced hospitals that use robot-assisted surgery. You can get information about doctors, hospitals, and prices. You are welcome to compare the cost of services in different medical centers and choose the option that suits you best.
If necessary, the Booking Health specialists will help you choose a hospital that specializes in robotic surgery and achieves the best results in the treatment of colorectal cancer and other intestinal diseases.
Please leave your request on the Booking Health website to get a consultation. We will help you organize your trip to a foreign hospital. The cost of services for you will be lower compared to directly contacting a medical center due to the absence of additional fees for foreign patients.
Choose treatment abroad and you will for sure get the best results!
Authors:
The article was edited by medical experts, board certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Vadim Zhiliuk. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!
Our editorial policy, which details our commitment to accuracy and transparency, is available here. Click this link to review our policies.
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