Robot-assisted surgery is the option of choice for many procedures.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT
ROBOTIC SURGERY THE INSIDE STORY ON ADVANCED TECHNIQUES
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obotic surgery has many advantages for both patients and doctors. Surgeons at Clara Maass Medical Center (CMMC) use it to perform hysterectomies, prostate cancer surgeries, weight loss surgeries and many other procedures. What’s the FRANK DOS SANTOS, DO Healthy Together
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attraction for surgeons? Although the name implies that a robot is in charge of the procedure, that couldn’t be further from the truth. During the procedure, a surgeon sits at a console and uses tiny instruments that mimic the movement of the human hand. “The instruments articulate and change angles, giving surgeons greater precision and flexibility,” explains Frank Dos Santos, DO, MPH, Chief Medical Officer at CMMC. In addition, the technology allows
a surgeon to “see” better. “Robotic surgery uses binocular 3D imagery to view small structures like the ureter, uterine vessels, arteries and veins in more detail than if you were standing over the body doing traditional surgery,” explains Dr. Dos Santos. All robot-assisted surgeries are minimally invasive, which means doctors need to make only a few small incisions. That helps patients recover faster and experience less pain compared to open surgery in most cases.
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