Laparoscopic & Robotic Cancer Surgery
Laparoscopic surgery allows a surgeon to perform complex procedures within the abdomen without having to place his hands directly into the body cavity. This is achieved by using miniaturized instruments placed through portals, called trocars, inserted through keyhole size incisions made in the abdomen. The abdominal cavity is inflated with carbon dioxide gas to provide a working space for the surgeon to operate in. Visualization of the internal anatomy is provided by a high definition, digital camera attached to a telescope lens inserted through one of the trocar sites. As the incision size tends to be smaller than for open surgery, postoperative pain is reduced in addition to blood loss and transfusions.
More recently, robotic surgery, introduced into the field of urology in 2000 has gradually supplanted many of the laparoscopic procedures due to advancements in visualization, ergonomics and instrumentation. Robotic surgery using the da Vinci™ Surgical Robotic System provides distinct advantages over conventional laparoscopic surgery.
