Utilizing Robotic Technology in Liver Surgery

Gastro Sciences | by Dr. Sanjay De Bakshi | Published on 07/10/2024

Due to the advancement in the medical field, complex surgeries like liver surgery are becoming more precise, safe, and minimally invasive. Today, due to the inclusion of robotic technology the complications of this surgery have been reduced, and the success rate has been increased. 

In this article, we will discuss robotic liver surgery, its benefits, and its application in complex operations like liver transplants. For liver-related issues, it is advisable to talk to our Gasteroenterologist. 

Introduction to Robotic Liver Surgery

Robotic liver surgery is the latest technological advancement in the field of Liver surgery, where the surgeon uses robotic instruments to perform surgery. During the surgery, the surgeon sits on a console and operates it using small instruments.

The robotic arms have surgical equipment and high-definition cameras, which makes the surgery more precise and safe. Compared to traditional surgery, these robotic arms are responsible for fewer postoperative complications and speedy recovery. 

Advancements with Robotic-Assisted Liver Surgery

In the last few years, surgeons can perform more complex hepatectomy and robotic liver transplant surgeries just because of this revolutionary technology. A hepatectomy, or liver resection, is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of a portion or the entire liver, which is cancerous. This surgery is advised for cancerous tumours and is also utilised in liver transplantation procedures.

So, one of the biggest advantages of Robotic-Assisted Liver Surgery is that now surgeons can perform highly sensitive and complex liver surgery, with more precision and success rate, which supersedes the traditional method. 

Along with this, robotic surgery is minimally invasive, which means the surgeon needs to make a small cut on the body, which leads to faster recovery and fewer complications. 

Benefits of Robotic Liver Surgery

On several points, we can say that robotic liver surgery is better than traditional surgery. Here, we have quoted some of the major advantages of choosing Robotic surgery for your liver issues:

• Precision and control: Robotic arms provide more control, range of motion, and accuracy to the surgeon, which is not possible with the hands. 
• Minimal bleeding: Due to small incisions and precise control, there is less bleeding during the operation, which leads to faster recovery of the patient.
• Less pain and scars: This small incision also leads to less pain and scars after surgery, which is quite a benefit of this surgery. 
• Faster recovery: After robotic surgery, you need to stay for just 1-2 days in the hospital, but after traditional surgery, you may need to stay in the hospital for a longer period. 
• Capable of performing complex surgeries: Usually, surgeons may face difficulties in performing complex surgeries like liver transplants and hepatectomy traditionally. However, with robotic surgery, they can perform with better outcomes.

Let’s briefly understand the benefits of Robotic Liver Surgery with this table.

Benefits	Description
Precision	The robotic arms give the surgeon great control and microscopic precision during the operation.
Less bleeding	There is less bleeding than in conventional surgery due to minimal invasiveness.
Less pain	There is less pain due to smaller incisions and fewer scars on the body.
Faster recovery	It is possible to spend less time in the hospital and return to normal life quickly

Applications of Robotic Surgery in Liver Transplants

Robotic surgery in liver transplantation has revolutionised the field of surgery. This technology increases precision, reduces complications, and ensures faster recovery for the patients. Here are the few applications of robotic surgery in liver transplants, which you should need to know -

• Donor hepatectomy: Due to the increasing use of robotic surgery living-donor liver transplantation becomes easier with smaller incisions, lesser pain, and faster recovery. 
• Liver graft transplantation: Robotic surgery increases precision during graft transplantation, especially in connecting blood vessels and bile ducts.

For complex surgeries that involve hard-to-reach areas, robotic arms lend the doctor enhanced dexterity. Whereas the HD visibility of the surgical areas removes any chances of surgical errors. This is why more and more surgeons prefer this new approach. For the patients undergoing these surgeries, the highlights are:

• Minimally invasive approach: This is especially beneficial for high-risk complex surgeries due to smaller incisions, lowered blood loss, and significantly minimal chance of infection risk.
• Faster recovery: Patients recover faster after robotic surgery, reducing the length of hospital stay and giving them a chance to lead an overall better quality of life. 

Conclusion

Robotic surgery has been a significant advancement in the medical field, and its applications are expanding, especially in complex procedures like liver operations. At CK Birla Hospitals, we are proud to offer this advanced and latest technology to our patients, providing them with precise, minimally invasive treatments that promote faster recovery and reduced postoperative complications. We always try to ensure that our patients receive the best possible care!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is robotic liver surgery safe?

Usually, robotic liver surgery is considered safe. But, there are few complications which a person can face, but that is rare. Recent studies have also confirmed that this technique is safer than traditional surgery.

How long is the recovery period after robotic liver surgery?

The recovery period after robotic liver surgery is much shorter than traditional liver surgery. The recovery period after the robotic liver surgery is 2-3 weeks, but in traditional surgery it is around 6-8 weeks.

What are the potential risks or complications of robotic liver surgery?

As we told earlier that robotic surgery is safe surgery, but still, there are few complications, which can arise like infection, bleeding, and in rare cases equipment failure.