Is Your Doc A Robo Doc?

Its a regular day in the hospital. Mr Kumar has just been wheeled in to the Operation Theatre for a bypass surgery. The OT seems relatively empty. The lights go red. The scene inside is anything but ordinary as a robotic arm takes over the surgery with precision and skill. Another close look later, you will find the surgeon seated behind the computer console directing the robotic arm. You are witnessing a one-of-a kind surgery — a robotic surgery.

Surgeries by robots are still in their nascent stages in India with only 13 robots available for conducting medical surgeries in the entire country. However the factors favouring robotic surgery in India are numerous like the presence of skilled surgeons, high number of patients, increasing cases of diseases. Such surgeries are largely being performed for cases related to gynecology, cardiac, cancer, laproscopy, urology, radio surgery, pediatrics. But compared to the global trend, India is still to warm up to surgeries performed by robots.

This form of surgery has many points to its advantage. Since it is mechanically controlled, it enables surgical precision contributing to the effectiveness of the operation. A major plus of robotic surgery is, that it uses minimal intrusion. This means unlike a normal bypass operation which requires the opening up of the rib cage, a robotic bypass will involve a maximum of four fingertip size intrusions. Because intrusion is minimal, the surgery causes less bleeding and leaves lesser scars. There are consequently less chances of infections, blood loss and thus less transfusion rates in a surgery performed by robots. Because it is safe and painless, it helps in the speedy recovery of the patient.

Robotic surgery, also helps those on the other side of the operation table, the medical staff. A surgery performed by a robot requires less of medical staff unlike a normal surgery where a team of at least 5-8 members are needed. The doctor can handle most of the operation on his own. Also, some operations which take many hours, can prove taxing on doctors. Robotic surgery on the other hand require less time (only in some cases) and thus save doctors a lot of fatigue.

Given its various advantages, why is robotic surgery not a preferred option? Cost is a primary reason. Robotic technology is expensive and is showing no signs of becoming cheaper. As for medical infrastructure, there is a gaping hole in the compatibility of existing medical instruments with robotic technology. Currently, access to this technology is limited and so are educational opportunities.

Despite being in the nascent stages, and limited by multiple factors, robotic surgery may slowly yet steadily gain popularity in India.