At this stage, the surgical robot will be activated to remove a gallbladder and will gradually be used for other surgeries as well
Two weeks ago, a new era opened in modern medicine - after the US Food and Drug Administration, the FDA, approved five hospitals to perform surgeries using robots, to help surgeons. The robotic system was given the name "Da Vinci System" - after the 15th century Italian genius Leonardo da Vinci, who was a painter, sculptor, architect and inventor.
The surgical robot will be used to remove a gall bladder and will gradually be used for other surgeries using the laparoscopy method in which four nozzles are "drilled" into the operated body and through them "sleeves" are inserted into the body containing surgical tools and tiny video cameras. Operation of the surgical tools is done through the "sleeves" when the transmitters transmit the full picture of what is happening in the operated body to the monitors in real time.
So far, as part of the experiments with the revolutionary equipment - produced by the "Intuitive Surgical" company from Mountain View, near San Francisco - 113 volunteers have been successfully operated on. In all of them it was necessary to remove the gallbladder and tumors in the digestive system.
At this stage surgery using a robot takes 50-40 minutes longer than traditional laparoscopy surgery - but the experts explained that the reason for this is the lack of sufficient experience of the surgeons.
Three years ago in the USA they started using a robotic camera for surgery that was activated by the surgeon's voice, but it was not allowed to combine this camera with a robot with arms that would also "enter" the operated body and perform cuts. The American Food and Drug Administration was also asked to grant approval to a more advanced robot, which will perform surgical procedures in the field of cardiology. For example: certain types of bypass grafting, valve replacement and artery "repair". In Europe they are now trying a robot to remove the prostate gland.
The idea behind the use of a surgical robot is to perform as few invasive activities on the body as possible. Surgery using a robot will also ensure a faster recovery of the patient and his return to work and regular family life.
For those who are interested: the following American hospitals are now equipped with the state-of-the-art robot system: Henrico Doctor's Hospital in Richmond, Virginia; Ohio University Medical Center in Columbus; East Carolina University, in Greenville, North Carolina; San Ramon Regional Medical Center in California; University of Texas Baylor Medical Center, Houston.
In the near future, the following hospitals will perform robot trials for cardiac procedures: Beth Israel Medical Center in New York; Brigham Hospital in Boston; Providence-Saint Vincent Medical Center in Portland, Oregon and the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.
Alex Doron, Maariv
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