If we could go a few years back in a time machine and tell the people that robots aren’t just confined to sci-fi movies, they would think that we are bluffing! But isn’t it amazing that robotics has become such an essential part of our lives now? Robots are now doing something even cooler than visiting space: performing surgery! Yes, you heard that right. Robots in surgery have changed the entire field of medical science by assisting doctors in surgery.
So, while you are waiting for your doctor’s appointment, let’s take a quick look at the use of robots in surgery. This article will focus on the use of robots in healthcare and hospitals, the pros and cons, and the benefits of using robotics. Let’s hop on for an amazing ride!
What is Robotic Surgery?
Robotic surgery is the use of robots in medical operations. They are highly equipped with the knowledge of a surgeon and their hand movements. They can make their own decisions and perform surgery on patients. They are highly efficient as they have accuracy and precision, which helps in the quick recovery of patients.
Autonomous robots do not require any human assistance, whereas humanoid robots need human handling. For them, surgeons sit with a console and control their movements. The robotic arms can carry around surgical tools and cameras that give a 3D view of the human body. The hand movements are so precise that they cancel out most errors that occur during surgeries.
Benefits of Robotic Surgery
Robotics ensures that the surgery conducted has fewer errors. It is a mixture of a surgeon’s knowledge and hand movements and a robot’s accuracy and precision. They can conduct surgery with only a few cuts and stitches, which is why the patients lose less blood.
During the recovery process, robots can provide company to the patients. Due to minimal cuts being made in the body, patients also recover faster and better. Patients have higher satisfaction after robotic surgery as they feel less discomfort. This has contributed to shorter stays, fewer readmissions, and quicker recovery.
Use of Robots in Surgery
Robots used in surgery imitate the hands and movements of a surgeon. It is developed in such a way that it has the same skills as a human surgeon but with more precision and accuracy. This ensures fewer errors in surgeries and quicker recovery for the patient. The da Vinci Surgical System is one example that replicates a surgeon’s hand movement combined with robotic accuracy.
Robots can be used for various surgeries such as urological, cardiac, gynaecological, etc. The use of robots in surgery ensures better precision, a lack of errors, less blood loss, and quicker recovery. Hence, we can agree that the use of robots in surgery is not replacing surgeons from health care, rather it is helping and assisting them.
Use of Robots in the Medical Field
Robotics has become so advanced that it is not only used inside an operating room. They can be used for rehabilitation, diagnostics, and pharmaceutical purposes. They can perform X-rays and ultrasounds very precisely. Robots can also help patients with strokes and injuries regain movement.
Robotics has moved very far, allowing doctors to control robots during surgeries from far away. Telemedicine allows doctors to check patients remotely as well. This incorporation of robotics into the field of medical science has made it more efficient, available, and accurate.
Use of Robots in Hospitals
Gone are the days when nurses and other medical staff had a lot of work on their backs. The use of robots in hospitals has reduced their workload by delivering medicines and lab reports to patients all over the hospital. In the present day, a lot of medical institutions have embraced robotics and have been using it to reduce the burden of excessive work on medical staff. Robots can also do the work of a hospital receptionist by entering the names and data of patients, including their admission and release times.
Robots were used to disinfect the rooms during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was done to ensure that no transmission of the virus takes place. Robots are highly equipped with human knowledge and hence, can assist patients as well. They can provide companionship and help patients feel loved while their family is away.
Use of Robotics in Healthcare
By now, we are very much clear about the use of robots in surgery and hospitals. If we look at the broader level, robotics is used in mental healthcare institutions as well. Robotic therapy can be used for children with autism to play and learn. Other types of robotics in healthcare include robotic prosthetics, exoskeletons, and robotic companions to patients.
It is highly accessible to the rural and underdeveloped places where there is s scarcity of medical specialists. With telemedicine and robotics, doctors can examine patients from remote areas. Robots are very efficient as they can survive in the most remote and rural areas. They can survive in any weather conditions.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Robotic Surgery
Everything has its pros and cons. Robotic surgery is very helpful in the present-day scenario. But it has both advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages:
- It has highly accurate and precise movements
- It causes fewer errors during surgery
- It ensures less blood loss during surgery
- Patients also recover quickly after surgery.
Disadvantages:
- It is very expensive.
- Making robots with human intelligence can be very costly.
- There is a high risk of technical failure during surgery
- It requires medical staff to be trained to deal with robots
How Many Hospitals in the US Use Robotic Surgery?
More than 3200 hospitals in the US use robotic surgery. The numbers have been growing since their first introduction in the 2010s. According to the Intuitive Surgical Annual Report of 2024, the stats are as follows:
| YEAR | Number of US hospitals using robotic surgery |
| 2012 | 1000 approx. |
| 2015 | 1700 approx. |
| 2020 | 2500 approx. |
| 2024 | 3200+ approx. |
What Percentage of Surgeries are Done by Robots?
The percentage of surgeries conducted by robots has been increasing every year. In the year 2024, about 45% of surgeries in the US were conducted by robots and surgeons together. According to the data given by the Intuitive Surgical Annual Report of 2024:
| YEAR | Percentage of surgeries conducted by robots |
| 2012 | 2% |
| 2017 | 15% |
| 2020 | 30% |
| 2024 | 45% |
Which country has the most robotic surgeries?
Currently, the United States is leading in robotic surgeries. More than 3200 hospitals in the US use robots for their surgeries. The da Vinci Surgical System was developed in the US and it remains the most globally used robot for surgery. The United States continues to grow its technology and techniques to integrate robotics into the field of healthcare and medical science.
Following the footsteps of the United States, South Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Germany have adopted robots into healthcare. These nations are working to incorporate technology and medical science. This would help the rural and underdeveloped areas and make healthcare more accessible to them.
Why are People Against Robotic Surgery?
There is a huge debate going on about whether or not robots should be used in surgery. Many people are concerned about the cost of robots in surgery. They are very expensive and hard to design. Others think that this would make healthcare less accessible to the poor and underdeveloped areas because it increases the overall cost of the procedure.
Robots in surgery also pose high risks of technical failure. Many patients do not want their surgery to be conducted by robots as they are afraid that the medical staff is not well-trained to control them. Another reason that people are against robotic surgery is that they believe it would reduce the reliance upon human surgeons.
Risks of Robotic Surgery
Robotic surgery has its risks and cons. Even though they are highly used in the field of medical science nowadays, robots can cause errors. Technical failure during surgery can pose a threat to the patient’s life. Handling robots during surgery requires trained medical staff. If they are not trained properly, medical delays and mishandling can be harmful to the patient.
During the initial phases of using robots in operating theatres, a surgeon may require more time. Longer duration of surgery can also become a threat to the patient, as it can cause nerve damage or infection. Others think that due to marketing strategies, robots can become a very integral part of medical science, making people believe in robotic surgery more than manual surgery.
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Impact of Robotic Surgery on Healthcare
The introduction of robots has revolutionised the field of medical science and healthcare. Due to the accuracy and precision of robotic surgeries, patients can heal better. Robotic surgery also involves fewer errors that often occur during manual surgeries. Hence, more people nowadays rely on robots.
Not only for surgery, robots have now become an integral part of healthcare. They provide medicines and lab reports to patients all over the hospital. Robots are also well-trained to provide company to the patients to ensure better recovery and less loneliness. It can be used in the field of mental healthcare as well to teach children with autism.
Which Surgery is Better: Manual or Robotic?
Both manual and robotic surgery have their advantages and disadvantages. Robotic surgery is very accurate and precise. Robots in surgery have the abilities of a human surgeon and their knowledge, along with robotic expertise. They can operate on any patient and have fewer chances of causing errors. Robotic surgery is however, risky as well since it can cause errors due to technical failure.
Manual surgery on the other hand, is the traditional method of conducting surgery. It involves a trained surgeon who operates on a patient. They are trained and well-equipped with the knowledge of surgery. The question of which is better depends on the requirements of the patient and what type of surgery they require.
FAQs
What is robotic surgery?
Robotic surgery refers to the use of robots for conducting surgery on patients. They know a human surgeon and the precision and accuracy of a robot. They are widely used in hospitals nowadays.
What are the benefits of robotic surgery?
It is highly accurate and precise. It causes very less errors compared to manual surgeries. There are also fewer operations done on the patients and hence, they lose less blood. The recovery time taken by the patient is also less.
What are the risks associated with robotic surgery?
It can malfunction during surgery and pose a threat to the patient’s life. It also requires trained medical staff to handle them. Mishandling can cost someone’s life and hence, people are afraid to go for robotic surgery.
Why are people against robotic surgery?
Some critics are of the opinion that the use of robots can cause errors due to malfunction. It also replaces manual surgeons in their field. Many people are against the use of robotics in surgery due to the cost and expense of making them. This makes them inaccessible to the poor and disadvantaged people.
Conclusion: Robots and Revolution in Medical Science
The use of robots is not limited only to the sci-fi movies of Christopher Nolan. It is used inside the hospitals as well. The future of robots in healthcare is bright and forward. With superb precision, accuracy, knowledge, and improved patient satisfaction, robotics has become an integral part of healthcare and medical science. Although there can be risks and cons, the advantages and broad uses are growing every day!
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