Robot-assisted treatment of stomach diseases: Da Vinci system
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The Da Vinci robot is increasingly being used in developed countries to perform stomach surgeries. With the help of this surgical system, surgeons can perform minimally invasive resection of the stomach (partial surgical removal of the organ) or gastrectomy (total surgical removal of the stomach). The Da Vinci robot makes the surgical treatment of stomach diseases safer, shortens the length of recovery time for patients, and can also improve the efficiency of surgeries. You can take advantage of services in the area of robotized surgery abroad. You are welcome to use the Booking Health service to check prices and make an appointment for your treatment on your preferred dates.
Content
- What is robotic stomach surgery?
- What stomach diseases can be treated with the robotic surgical system?
- Robotic surgery for stomach cancer
- Where to have surgeries with the Da Vinci system?
What is robotic stomach surgery?
The Da Vinci surgical system is an advanced robot-assisted technology manufactured in the USA. This is the only robotic surgery system that has been widespread in medicine and is used around the world.
When performing surgery, the doctor controls the robotic arms remotely with a remote control. The robot Da Vinci provides the surgeon with a three-dimensional image of the surgical field with ten times magnification, replicates the natural coordination of the hand and eye in the surgeon's ergonomic console, ensures a high degree of freedom with articulated surgical instruments, and stabilizes tremors (trembling hands).
The first stomach surgery with the Da Vinci system was performed in 2003. Specialists performed a gastrectomy, a resection of the stomach. Since then, robotic surgery systems have been improved, and new instruments have appeared. These have provided doctors with additional technical capabilities that have led to ever-improving outcomes in the treatment of stomach diseases.
There are currently more than 7,000 Da Vinci systems available worldwide. This robotic surgery device is most often used for pelvic surgeries, as the robot demonstrates maximum benefits in this area of surgery.
Specialized centers perform stomach surgery with the robot Da Vinci. The technique can be used in all cases where laparoscopy ("manual" minimally invasive surgery through short abdominal incisions) is indicated, but with greater safety and better results.
What stomach diseases can be treated with the robotic surgical system?
Almost any stomach condition that requires surgery can be treated using a robot, with the exception of advanced inflammation, end-stage cancer, and extensive injuries. Robot-assisted surgeries can be performed for the following indications:
- Treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors of the stomach
- Benign and intermediate stomach tumors
- Stomach cancer, mostly in the early stages
- Gastric bypass (bariatric surgery for obesity treatment)
- Hiatal hernias
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (robot-assisted fundoplication)
- Stomach ulcers
Robotic surgery for stomach cancer
In 2018, robot-assisted surgeries were approved for stomach cancer in Japan. Although they are not yet standard in other countries for this cancer, Japan is the leading country for the treatment of stomach cancer because this pathology is most common here.
This country, as well as China, carry out most studies on the treatment of this disease. They confirm that survival rates, duration of surgery, blood loss, the length of a postoperative hospital stay, long-term oncological outcomes, and quality of life are at least as good as with open and laparoscopic surgeries, and in some cases, robotic surgery may be superior to other surgical procedures.
Compared to laparoscopy, the Da Vinci robot-assisted surgeries provide less blood loss and shorter hospital stays. Treatment outcomes are at least as good as laparoscopy, and some reports indicate that they are even better. Robotic surgery provides benefits by eliminating the following two major disadvantages of gastric laparoscopy: limited range of motion with straight forceps and hand tremors.
Recent studies have demonstrated the excellent results of robotic surgery for both early and advanced stomach cancer. When performed by experienced doctors, the world's leading hospitals achieve the same patient survival rates that are provided by open abdominal surgery.
Moreover, some studies show better survival rates for patients with stomach cancer after Da Vinci robotic surgery than after laparoscopy. It is assumed that they are associated with a lower risk of complications, which, like the cancer itself, affect the long-term prognosis.
The disadvantages of surgery using the robot Da Vinci are considered to be its longer duration and higher cost of treatment.
Where to have surgeries with the Da Vinci system?
If you want to take advantage of Da Vinci robotic gastroesophageal surgery, you can go abroad. In the developed countries of Europe:
- The Da Vinci robot has been successfully used for more than two decades, so doctors have extensive experience in the treatment of stomach diseases with the help of this system
- There are specialized hospitals that annually perform a large number of surgeries for gastroesophageal reflux disease, hiatal hernias, tumors, and other conditions
- The latest generations of Da Vinci robotic surgical systems are used
- Even the most complex surgical interventions, including those for stomach cancer, are performed with good results
Doctors abroad dealing with robotic surgery undergo extensive training. Therefore, you can be sure that your stomach surgery will be performed by a highly qualified professional who has already done dozens, and possibly hundreds, of similar operations.
You are welcome to visit the Booking Health website to see the list of hospitals that use the Da Vinci surgical system and to find out the cost of services. Our website presents the leading abdominal surgery centers that admit international patients.
Simply leave your request on the Booking Health website to get a consultation from a medical tourism specialist and our help in choosing a hospital. We will choose the best center that demonstrates excellent results in the treatment of your specific disease. The Booking Health specialists will organize your trip and provide support during your stay abroad. When you make an appointment through our service, the prices for you will be lower than when you contact a clinic specializing in robotic surgery directly. The lower cost is 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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Read:
Effective and painless treatment of gastrointestinal diseases in German clinics
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Treatment of stomach cancer in Germany: focus on the quality of life
Benefits of treating stomach cancer abroad
