'CapEx and the cost per patient will reduce with time for RAS'

Surgical robotics is proving to be a boon for healthcare. These systems offer many benefits including better cosmesis, reduced pain, and superior ergonomics, says Dr Pradeep Chowbey, Chairman, Max Institute of Laparoscopic, Endoscopic, Bariatric Surgery and Allied Surgical Specialities, Max Super Speciality Hospital, in an interview to Healthcare Radius. Excerpts of the interview:

Which types of surgeries are carried out with the help of surgical robots today?

Robotic surgeries with next generation robots are used in India for many common procedures like gallbladder stones, hernia, appendicitis, fundoplication, bariatric surgery and many other laparoscopic procedures. Previous generation robots have been in use for many years for urological and oncological procedures.

Robot-assisted surgeries (RAS) are now being used for almost all specialities. In fact, with the pace at which the technological advancements are evolving, most of the surgeries in the future would be possibly done with robotic systems with a few exceptions like a caesarean section.

What are the key advantages of assistive robotic technology for surgeries?

There are myriad advantages of a robotic surgery. In particular, the next generation robotic systems are backed by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities which significantly improves the accuracy and safety. Firstly, it is the 3-dimensional view that empowers surgeons with greater depth perception that in turn increases the precision.

Another key advantage is the wide degree of wrist movement of up to almost 720 degrees with the robotic arms which overcomes the limitations of the human wrist that can only rotate up to 30 degrees. It allows fine and delicate wrist movements that has made suturing and complex maneuvers a pleasure again for surgeons. Also, the robotic systems come with some in-built safety features that negates the surgical errors owing to its machine learning capabilities.