Medical procedures have taken a huge leap forward nowadays, especially with robotic-assisted surgery.
However, many people are wondering if it is safe to go from traditional surgeries and procedures to the more advanced options that haven’t been around that long.
In this article, you will learn the major differences between each procedure to find out which option is best for you. However, it is still best to ask your doctor before going through each option.
What is robotic-assisted surgery?
Despite how it sounds, the surgeon will still do most of the procedure, the only difference is that machines will handle the preparations, such as taking pictures and scanning the affected area to create a clear image of what the doctor will be working on.
For example, for prostate cancer surgery and treatment, images will be taken with a CT or computed
tomography scan. The machine will rotate and take photos of every angle, and the clinician will combine each scan to create a virtual 3-D model of your prostate– allowing the surgeon to accurately plan every
detail of the procedure.
During surgery, some hospitals have robotic arm systems for assisting with the procedure that allows
surgeons to make smaller incisions thanks to the detailed photos and scans.
Traditional surgery
Many prostate cancer patients have had cancers removed with traditional surgery. It is still the best option for many patients. Although it only uses 2D photos when planning for each procedure, it is still proven to be the best option because doctors have been doing it for so long.
However, some doctors prefer detailed photos from robotic-assisted surgery and their machines because it makes their job a lot easier and more accurate, especially when it comes to making incisions.
Traditional surgery requires larger cuts to access the infected areas, which makes recovery time longer. Depending on your procedure, whether it is prostate cancer or joint replacement, it is up to your doctor to
decide which option is best for you.
