Less pain. More gain.
Why robotic surgery can do wonders for colorectal cancer.
By ShareMD Connect
If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, you’ll be relieved to know that many advancements in medicine and surgery have been made over the years to improve patient outcomes.
One, in particular, is robotic surgery.
Robotic surgery is quickly becoming a preferred surgical approach to colorectal cancer, enabling more predictable results and a lower potential for recurrence. This method eliminates the need for extensive abdominal surgery and the lengthy recovery process afterward while also reducing the risk of complications like infection and pain, ensuring a quicker and smoother recovery.
Why Robotic Surgery?
For starters, robotic surgery is minimally invasive, meaning that the surgery is performed through several small incisions by a robotic system that generally has four arms—one that holds a tiny, high-definition 3D camera and three that hold surgical instruments.
The surgeon controls this robotic system from a panel and can maneuver the instruments precisely within tiny spaces. Such precision allows superior dexterity in several directions, all without any tremor. Other benefits of robotic surgery include:
- Stability
- Better visualization
- Increased precision
- Better instruments
- Improved suturing
Choosing the robotic surgery route has been shown to improve outcomes, reduce recovery time, and minimize complications like infection, pain, and long recovery times typical with open surgery. Additionally, and perhaps most significantly, it helps patients recover normal digestive processes quicker, avoiding the long-term need for colostomy, among other things.
Conditions Indicated for Robotic Surgery
Not all colorectal cancers are candidates for robotic surgery. However, finding out if it's an option is critical as it could translate directly to your quality of life in the short and long term.
Robotic surgery is commonly indicated for these conditions:
- Rectal cancer
- Trans-anal conditions
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Crohn’s disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Rectal prolapse
- Diverticulitis
- Colon cancer
- And more
If you are facing a colorectal cancer diagnosis, it’s essential to have a second opinion to verify your diagnosis and understand the various treatments.
Have more questions about robotic surgery or other treatment options? Schedule a free call with a ShareMD Nurse Education Specialist or take this assessment now to see if a second opinion may be right for you.