The Role of Robotic Surgery in Colorectal Cancer Operations

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide. It's caused by the uncontrolled proliferation of cells on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. Today, surgical methods are considered one of the most effective options for treating colorectal cancer. Robotic surgery has created a revolutionary change in this field, allowing operations to be performed more precisely and in a more patient-friendly manner.

The Role of Robotic Surgery in Colorectal Cancer Treatment

Robotic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical method where surgeons perform an operation using a robotic system. In this method, the surgeon sits at a console and controls robotic arms. To understand the role of robotic surgery in colorectal cancer treatment, let's first look at the advantages it offers compared to traditional surgical methods.

Advantages of Robotic Surgery

• More Precise Incisions and Manipulation: Robotic surgery provides surgeons with a high-resolution, three-dimensional imaging system. This allows for more precise incisions around tissue and nerves, and the cancerous area can be removed more effectively.

• Less Blood Loss: The minimally invasive methods used during robotic surgery lead to less blood loss. This contributes to a faster recovery for patients after the operation.

• Shorter Hospital Stays: Robotic surgery allows patients to be discharged from the hospital sooner after their operation. Minimal tissue damage and less pain significantly reduce the length of the hospital stay.

• Lower Risk of Complications: Compared to traditional surgery, the risks of infection and other complications are lower in operations performed with robotic surgery.

• Greater Ergonomics for the Surgeon: Robotic surgery allows surgeons to work comfortably for extended periods. This is a crucial factor that increases the success of the operation.

Applications of Robotic Surgery in Colorectal Cancer Treatment

Robotic surgery has many different applications in the treatment of colorectal cancer. These applications include:

• Total Mesorectal Excision (TME): This technique, used for rectal cancers, can be performed with greater precision thanks to robotic surgery.

• Colon Resection: The precision provided by robotic surgery is a major advantage for removing a portion of the colon to control the spread of colorectal cancer.

• Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection: Robotic surgery allows for the more effective removal of lymph nodes in the pelvic area.

Disadvantages of Robotic Surgery

Although robotic surgery has many advantages, it also has some disadvantages:

• High Costs: The setup and use of robotic surgical systems are quite expensive. This limits the access of some healthcare facilities to this technology.

• Long Learning Curve: Robotic surgery requires special training for surgeons. Therefore, it may take time for an inexperienced surgeon to become proficient in using robotic systems.

• Operation Time: In some cases, operations performed with robotic surgery may take longer. However, this generally decreases as the surgeon gains experience.

The Future of Robotic Surgery

Robotic surgical technology is constantly evolving. In the future, more compact and cost-effective robotic systems are expected to be launched. Additionally, AI-supported robotic surgical systems are predicted to make surgical procedures even more precise and effective.

Conclusion

Robotic surgery offers significant advantages for both patients and surgeons in the treatment of colorectal cancer. Factors such as a more precise surgical procedure, a lower risk of complications, and a faster recovery period increase the importance of robotic surgery in this field. However, disadvantages such as high costs and the learning curve must also be considered. In the future, with innovations in robotic surgical technology, the goal is for these disadvantages to decrease and for the technology to reach a broader patient population.