It is a better alternative in cardiac surgery
Dr Ravi Kumar, director, Robotic Heart Surgery programme, speaks about the advantages of robotic assisted minimally invasive procedures. (Photo: DC/File)
Coimbatore: Robotic assisted cardiac surgery is a far better alternative compared to open heart surgery as the minimally invasive advanced surgery involves less blood loss, less pain, less scarring and faster recovery, said Dr Ravi Kumar, cardiothoracic surgeon and director, robotic heart surgery programme, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai.
Speaking to mediapersons, he said robotic assisted surgeries are now increasingly used in the replacement of mitral valve, aortic valve and bypass surgery. As compared to traditional open heart surgery, complications are less as there are lower chances of infection. In robotic surgery, the surgeon makes a small incision between the rib space and performs the surgery.
“As recovery is faster, the patient is usually able to do things on his own without assistance, in a matter of three days,” said Dr Ravi Kumar who performed the world’s first robot-assisted double-valve replacement as well as a robot-assisted combined mitral valve replacement and CABG.
The technology provides the surgeon with 10 times magnified and enhanced 3D vision which helps in greater precision, accuracy and control. The miniaturised instrument is flexible and can rotate 360 degrees far beyond the capabilities of the human hand.
“However, the system cannot act on its own. The robotic arms hold and manipulate tiny instruments in order to perform the required tasks on the heart or surrounding arteries. A tiny video camera is inserted into another incision to provide a magnified, three-dimensional image of the operating site. The surgeon controls the robotic arms and camera from a special console located within the operating room,” he added.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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