Anyone who’s
had a medical operation knows that it can be such a source of pain. Traditional
surgical procedures are invasive in nature, causing certain amount of trauma to
implement a course of treatment. Many internal complaints require long
incisions that take time to heal, not to mention an increase in the chances of
infection. Rather than offer a quick remedy for an illness, the patient is left
to recuperate on his sickbed for a period of time.
However, latest
advancements in medical technology allow individuals to opt for a less
traumatic approach to their care. The introduction of robotic surgery easily
avoids all the complications brought about by most operations.
Now hailed as
the future of surgical procedures, The Medical City (TMC) has been offering
robotic surgeries since 2010 for procedures that target difficult and
hard-to-reach areas. This signals its position as one of the most
technologically advanced health institutions in the country, at par with
leading centers in the world.
Doctors at The
Medical City have been using this innovation for urological, colorectal, and
gynecological procedures, which focus on sensitive parts of the human body.
Dr. Julius
Cajucom, TMC Urologist and head of the Robotics Surgery Program of The Medical
City, says prostate surgeries target a “tight area” in the body.
“The degree of
difficulty is so great,” explains Cajucom. “The area is very tight, and
movements are so limited.” The use of the robot makes the operation in the said
areas more convenient and easier.
The advantages
of robotic surgeries are manifold. Compared to open surgeries, it only makes
tiny incisions on the patient’s body where holes are made, as in laparoscopic
procedures. Through these holes, the arms of the machine are inserted to
perform the needed operation within the patient’s body. The doctor operates the
robot through a console that allows him to see the inside of the patient
without having to open him up. Since the patient has smaller incisions, the
chances of infection from external causes are minimized.
“It is
less traumatic, less bloody, causes less pain post-operatively, and promotes
faster recovery,” says Cajucom.
Likewise, Dr.
Kristine Katimbang, TMC Robotic Gynecologic Surgeon, says robotic surgery is
beneficial for many gynecological procedures, such as hysterectomies,
myomectomies, and excising ovarian cysts, endometrial cancer and cervical
cancer.
Katimbang
adds that many patients who undergo robotic surgery leave the hospital in just
a day or two.
“Since there is
no pain, they can move easily. They can eat well after a procedure, which isn’t
the case compared with an open surgery,” she says. “Since there are no long
incisions, there is less pain, less stress, and less agony. You cannot imagine
how doctors feel when they see their patients with smiles on their faces after
robotic surgery.”
The
Medical City has highly-qualified personnel to perform robotic surgeries, from
doctors to nurses. All of them trained with the leading health institutions
abroad.
While the
procedure is presently available for urologic, colorectal, and gynecological
operations, Katimbang says it can also be utilized for head and neck,
trans-oral, thoracic, and vascular surgeries.
Patients no
longer need to fear surgeries and their after effects on their bodies with
robotic surgery. Robotics surgery provides an alternative to both
traditional open and conventional laparoscopic surgery, putting the
doctor’s hands at the controls of a state-of-the-art robotic platform. It
enables physicians to perform even the most complex and delicate procedures
through very small incisions with unmatched precision.
Anyone who’s had a medical operation knows that it can be such a source of pain. Traditional surgical procedures are invasive in nature, ...
