What Are the Benefits of Robotic Surgery?

Robotic surgery allows surgeons to use computer-programmed robotic arms and other mechanized tools to perform a variety of surgical procedures. These tools aid surgeons---they do not replace them.

Minimally Invasive

• Doctors only need to make tiny incisions to use robotic surgical tools during a procedure. This reduces bleeding, pain, recovery time, infection, hospital stays and risk of scarring, according to St. Barnabas Health Care System

Precision

• These tools allow surgeons to perform more complex tasks than they would normally be able to perform on their own, which increases precision.

Reduced Burden

• Robotic surgery reduces the physical burden of the operating surgeon compared with other types of procedures that might require more awkward positioning, according to Dr. Bishoy Morris of Medscape.com.

Efficacy

• According to Morris, studies indicate robotic surgery seems to offer advantages over laparoscopic procedures---particularly reduced death, complications and hospital stay. The medical community needs more research to determine their effectiveness compared with traditional surgery.

Limitations

• Although this type of surgery has many benefits, some drawbacks exist. They include cost and the inability of the surgeon to actually touch the area being operated on--which can be important in some cases.