This is an era of minimal-invasive surgery, which includes Laparoscopic Surgery and Robotic Surgery. Laparoscopic surgery is now being used for more than three decades but still has its own limitations in form of a long learning curve and limited range of movement, especially in children with small body cavities requiring reconstructive surgeries.
In robotic-assisted surgery (RAS), the surgeon sits besides the patient on a console and manipulates robotic arms with articulated instruments which are controlled by surgeon’s hand. The surgeon’s hand movements are transmitted inside’s the patient’s body to perform precise dissection and suture.
The RAS has advantages of providing high definition and magnified 3D vision along with the 7 Degrees of freedom of movement. This is an advantage, especially in children, because of their miniature size. This helps surgeon not only to perform surgery with great precision but also significantly reduces surgical stress.
Since 2002, when robotic surgery was started, its application in children have expanded in performing wide range of pediatric urologist surgeries like pyeloplasty in pelvic-ureteric junction, obstruction ureteric rampant in Vesicoureteric reflux, Heminephrectomy, Nephrectomy for renal tumours etc. It is also being used now in Thoracic and gastrointestinal surgeries.
RAS can be performed in all age groups, including new borns and infants.
The currently available studies suggest that the safety and outcome of RAS surgeries are almost the same as compared to other conventional surgeries.
Looking at the advantages of robotic surgery, it is important to make use of its benefits for the Pediatric population. The safety and the surgical outcome of RAS will surely revolutionize surgical management in children.
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