Robotic surgery, or robot-assisted surgery, allows doctors to perform many types of complex operations with more precision and control than previously with other techniques.

 

Robotic surgery is rapidly emerging as the most recent major advance in minimally invasive surgery, including colorectal surgery. Specifically it has been heralded as a significant advance in enabling minimally invasive surgery to be performed in very difficult parts of the body, such as the pelvis, where the area to operate in is restricted. It has the advantages that it provides a three dimensional image, uses wristed instruments, and has a computer interface that allows for fluid and accurate movements to assist the surgeon in all procedures, but specifically those that would be typically
considered more challenging to be completed in a minimally invasive fashion.

Robotic colorectal surgery can be used to treat a number of colorectal conditions including colon cancer, rectal cancer, diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease) and rectal prolapse. Some of the potential benefits of this procedure, for patients facing colorectal surgery include less potential for blood loss, faster return to bowel function and diet, and a shorter stay in hospital with overall quicker recovery time.