Lung cancer surgery performed by robotics requires a camera that gives a clear image of the inside of the chest of an individual. The word “robotic” is often a misnomer because it’s not a machine that executes the procedure. Instead, surgeons use instruments for surgery that are controlled via a console. This means it is robotically assisted.
The procedure is more minimally invasive than chest surgeries, therefore it offers a variety of recovery advantages as well as fewer dangers. The article below will look at the robotic-assisted treatment for lung cancer and examine how it works and the various types. We also review the advantages and risks of robotic surgery.
The definition of robot surgery
It is the American Lung Association explains that robotic cancer surgery is one of two options that are minimally invasive to open chest surgery to treat lung cancer. It is a term that means that surgeons make small cuts while performing surgery. Another option that is minimally invasive is a video-assisted surgical thoracoscopic procedure (VATS ).
The robotic-assisted procedure uses computer-enhanced robotic technology dubbed the da Vinci surgical system. The da Vinci surgical system permits surgeons to work in the chest region with the aid of a 3D HD camera and tiny moving instruments. The instruments operate similarly to human hands, however with greater flexibility of motion and precision.
How does the procedure work
In robotic-assisted surgery, surgeons sit on a console and cut small holes through which the procedure is performed. The surgeon then inserts a camera and small surgical instruments in the region which is cancerous to the lung. The camera’s console broadcasts a 360-degree image of the surgery area.
As he controls the console the surgeon performs tiny hand movements. The system transforms these into small movements using surgical instruments in the lung. The surgeon then removes lung tissue by making an incision using the instruments used for surgery. A doctor will look at the patient’s medical condition and background before deciding if robotic-assisted surgery is a good alternative for them. One might be a potential candidate for this kind of operation if the tumor is near the outside of the lung and not connected with blood vessels.
The types of robotic surgery to treat lung cancer
Surgeons can use robotics to perform three kinds of lung cancer surgical procedures. This includes:
- Lobectomy The term refers to the removal of the whole lung’s affected lobe.
- Resection of the wedge: It involves the removal of the tumor along with one small piece of healthy lung tissue that surrounds it.
- Segmentation With this technique the surgeon will remove more tissue than in wedge resection, but less than the lobectomy.
ResearchTrusted Source Comparing the outcomes of people suffering from small cell lung cancer after three different types of surgery identified a link between lobectomy and better survival rates. For those patients who were candidates for lobectomy but were not appropriate, the outcomes were higher with segmentation than those who underwent wedge resection.
Lobectomy could lead to more favorable outcomes, but not all patients can benefit from the procedure. For instance, the authors of a study say that doctors might recommend either a wedge-shaped or segmentation to patients who have a limited lung reserve or with early-stage lung cancer. These two options are known as sublobar resections.
Advantages of Managed IT Services
Since robotic surgery is not surgically invasive, it comes with a variety of advantages. They include:
- a shorter hospital stay
- speedier recovery
- less suffering
- Fewer hassles
- lower loss of blood
- smaller scars
- There is no cuts to the breastbone or the ribs
Risks
Every surgery, including one that is minimally in-invasive to treat lung cancer, is associated with risks like:
- air leakage out of the air leakage from the
- bleeding
- Infections
- Pain
- abnormal heartbeats
The process of robotic-assisted surgery generally includes three steps.
- The person who is undergoing surgery receives general anesthesia.
- The surgeon introduces a breathing tube to the airway of the patient.
- The surgeon will make between one to five small cuts in between the ribs of the patient.
- The surgeon places an instrument and camera into the ribs.
- When the surgery is finished After the procedure is complete, the surgeon will insert the chest tube between the cut in order to remove any liquid or air.
- The chest tube remains in place for a few days. Health experts will take it off before the patient is allowed to go home.
Recovery
Research suggests that robotic lobectomy is more likely to require the need for a four-day admission to the hospital. After the patient has returned after a hospitalization, they generally get back their breath, energy, and strength in two to three weeks.
Summary
The use of robotics-assisted lung cancer surgery could offer an advantage over traditional chest surgery with the potential for a shorter hospital stay and a quicker recovery. As with all surgeries, the risks of robotic-assisted surgery are high.
Lung cancer surgery that is robotically assisted will require a patient to remain at the hospital for several days. After discharge, the majority of patients recuperating at home in a couple of weeks.
