Robotic surgery myth busting

Key Takeaways:

• Robotic surgery has advantages for the patient and the surgeon versus traditional open surgery.
• It results in shorter recovery times, less pain, and faster return to daily activities.
• The surgeon is always in the room during robotic surgery procedures; the robot does not operate independently.

This month, WVU Medicine announced that it has become home to the region’s largest fleet of da Vinci® surgical robots. 

Despite all the advances in robotic surgery, many myths still abound. 

To dispel some of those rumors, we’re going to use this blog to do some robotic surgery myth busting.

Myth: The surgeon isn’t in the room while performing robotic surgery.

That’s totally false. The surgeon controls the robot through a surgeon console.  It is the policy of all WVU Medicine hospitals that the console is in the operating room. There should always be a surgeon in the room at any time that we’re operating the robot.

Myth: The robot does all the work when it comes to robotic surgery.

The robot doesn’t do all the work. The robot is a tool that assists the surgeon in performing your procedure.   The ergonomics are better, improving surgeon comfort and reducing fatigue and injury. It also stabilizes the instruments; removing the tiny tremors we all naturally have on our hands.

The view is magnified, so the surgeon can see things a little bit closer and a little bit better, increasing precision. The surgeon always controls the robot. The robot doesn’t do anything without the surgeon operating it, so it’s just a tool that helps assist your surgeon perform your surgery better.

Myth: Robotic surgery is riskier than traditional surgery.

For appropriate procedures, robotic surgery results in shorter hospital stays, faster recovery, and less complications like blood transfusion.  There are procedures that are not good candidates to be done minimally invasively (robotically or laparoscopically) and need to be done with a larger open incision. That requires discussion between you and your surgeon to decide what risks and benefits you are willing to accept and what mode is going to get you the best outcome.

Myth: Robotic surgery isn’t as precise as open or laparoscopic surgery.

Robotic instruments are “wristed,” meaning they can bend and turn in ways that laparoscopic and open instruments are not designed to move. Not only is the view magnified, but the camera is stabilized by the robot and controlled by the surgeon. The instruments are also more stable as the robot assist with movement.

The motions are actually more precise and controlled than what we do during open or laparoscopic surgery.

Myth: Robotic surgery is only for complex procedures.

Robotic surgery is for indicated procedures- and that is decided between you and your surgeon. We can do much more complicated procedures through the small incisions that we would otherwise have to do with a bigger open incision. But robotic surgery is useful in all kinds of procedures. It just really is up to what your surgeon feels is best based on your anatomy and your condition.

Myth: Robotic surgery replaces a surgeon’s skill.

It does not replace the surgeon’s skill. Robotic surgery enhances a surgeon’s skill. We control the robot and tell the robot everything it does. Your surgeon must be appropriately trained. 

We have a full committee that reviews every surgeon who wants to operate on the robot. We go through all their cases, their training, make sure they’ve done the appropriate courses, and ensure people can vouch for their ability to use this equipment. If they are not at that point, we have training pathways to teach them.

But your surgeon’s skill is not based on the robot. Your surgeon’s skill is based on all the training they’ve done to be able to provide you with the care you need.

Myth: Recovery time is the same as open surgery.

Robotic surgery has a much shorter recovery time than surgeries with a big incision. 

For example, let’s compare two hysterectomies. 

If I’m doing a hysterectomy with an open incision, I would expect that patient to probably stay two or three days in the hospital because I need to get your pain under control and make sure you’re eating and walking well.

If I was doing a hysterectomy with robotic surgery, I would expect you to go home the same day because the pain is so much less. Because the pain is less, I don’t send you home with as much pain medication; in some cases, we don't need to send you home with anything other than acetaminophen and ibuprofen. With an open surgery you are probably are going to need something bit stronger.

With less pain and less sedating pain medication, you will be up and moving faster.  This makes your bowels work better and helps you get back to normal faster. 

I routinely get my patients back to work in a week or two weeks, whereas if I do open surgery, I usually expect four to six weeks.

Fact: Advanced surgical care close to home

With robotic surgery platforms across 16 hospitals in West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, WVU Medicine’s robotic-assisted surgery program gives patients access to minimally invasive options that once required a trip to a major metropolitan center.

For more information about robotic-assisted surgery near you, visit WVUMedicine.org/RoboticSurgery.