Surgery: New, Improved Options

Jacqueline Owen’s essay, "Robotic Surgery" was informative and, like she stated, very exciting.  She addressed the possibilities that robotics offer in great detail and describes the advantages and challenges associated with this minimally invasive technique during surgical procedures.  It is an almost perfect surgery and answers the question of why patients are discharged so early from a hospital stay after a major procedure.   

Ms. Owen is careful to promote the benefits as well as the drawbacks of robotic assistance during surgery.  She is convinced, and hopes that her audience will also be persuaded, that the good factors outweigh the concerns raised by the medical community.  Healthcare professionals appreciate the efficiency of the robotic assistant and the outstanding medical outcomes for patients, such as reduced blood loss, reduced risk of infection and swift recovery time, is fantastic. And the patient must feel better.  Just think, it no longer takes two to six weeks for a full recovery and it's many potential complications.  This has been shortened to a whopping three to five days!  The significant reduction of costs to insurance companies by relieving the requirement of long in-patient care cannot be argued.  But should they add a modifier 62 (assistant surgeon) after the surgery has been completed and check off the instruments used?  Robotic...Check.  Patient tolerated the procedure well and went to the recovery room in stable condition. 

However, even the medical community has expressed concerns regarding safety.   Some issues are related to hardware and software glitches that could result unavoidable errors.  Those errors may not be readily identifiable and this is a definite downside for surgeons, medical facilities, and ultimately the patient.  In addition, to purchase the equipment is very costly.  How and where are physicians being trained if the price of the technology is so cost prohibitive?  Could this limit the number of physicians that have actually obtained the appropriate skill set needed to perform surgery using this procedure?  Does this drive up the fees for this type of procedure?

Although this information remains exciting and convincing, it is important to analyze all aspects of safety and patients should receive full and fair disclosure before electing the way they want their surgery performed.  At the end of the day, the risks are mimimal...just turn the robot off.  Amazing...I think I'll schedule that needed surgery!