5 Important Benefits Of Pediatric Robotic Urology Surgery
Pediatric Urology is a surgical speciality that helps treat urological issues in children, such as kidney infections, blockage, tumors in the kidney and allied organs, trauma, and congenital disabilities in the urinary tract. These urological issues could be congenital or occur at the later stage of childhood.
Robotic surgery is a minimally invasive robotic surgery for children’s urological conditions. While traditional surgery methods are still widely used in pediatric urology, in recent years, Robotic pediatric surgery has garnered more importance and popularity in recent years. This cutting-edge, minimally invasive surgical technique overcomes the limitations of traditional pediatric surgical procedures and is more precise than the human hand. It, therefore, ensures more precise surgery that reduces blood loss and also helps in reducing pain after surgery.
We’ll now explore some more benefits of robot-assisted surgery in pediatric urology.
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5 Advantages Of Robotic Surgery In Pediatric Urology
1. Reduced Scarring
A skilled surgeon maneuvers the robotic arms to perform precise and controlled movements, which ensures that there is minimal scarring after the surgery. The robotic surgery machine is equipped with an inbuilt 3D high-definition camera which helps the surgeon get a better look at the surgical site. This improves their field of vision and gives the pediatric surgeon better control over the procedure.
Where traditional surgery has its uses, the incisions made are larger, whereas robotic surgery makes smaller incisions as the robotic arms and instruments are designed to perform the procedure through tiny incisions.This means that the robotic pediatric urology patients will have less scarring and will recover faster.
Children have delicate skin which can make scarring more prominent and noticeable. When a wound heals, the scar that forms may be vulnerable to bacterial infection, by reducing scarring, robotic surgery also reduces the risk of such infections. The psychological impact of visible scars on a child’s self-esteem and body image can also be minimized by the reduced scarring which is an important benefit of robotic pediatric urology surgery.
2. Quicker Recovery
The robotic technology in pediatric urology surgery involves smaller incisions, precise cuts and movements leading to minimum tissue injury. This further results in less pain post surgery, reduced blood loss, and fewer surgical complications, leading to a faster recovery of pediatric patients.
In traditional surgery the incisions are done manually by the surgeon, which results in larger cuts,more blood loss, increased risk of infection and longer hospital stays. As we have seen, robotic-assisted urological procedures for children involve smaller incisions and minimum blood loss, which speeds up the recovery time.
Children’s physiological and psychological needs differ from adults. The faster recovery times allow pediatric patients to experience less disruption to their daily lives. It reduces the emotional and psychological stress associated with long hospital stays.
3. Improved Precision
The robotic machinery used for surgery is operated by the surgeons. These robotic arms have a wider range of motion than human hands, allowing for precise and fine movements, smaller incision cuts which are particularly advantageous in delicate pediatric surgeries. The robotic system’s 3D camera delivers real-time feedback to help surgeons perform surgery efficiently.
In traditional surgery, the surgeon carries out the incision manually and there are visual limitations whereas in robotic surgery for children with urinary tract conditions, has a 3D view which allows for precise movements and better visuals. It enables the surgeon to perform complex procedures with greater accuracy.
The improved precision of robotic surgery reduces the damage to healthy tissues, minimizes blood loss during surgery, reduces the risk of injury to vital organs, nerves and blood vessels because of 3D vision and lowers the risk of complications.
4. Reduced Pain and Discomfort
Due to its minimally invasive approach with smaller incisions and improved precision, robotic surgery is associated with less pain and discomfort post surgery.
Traditional surgery requires wider incision cuts, which cause more tissue damage, nerve disruption and muscle strain, which can lead to increased pain during recovery. In contrast, robotic surgery with smaller incisions reduces nerve damage, tissue damage, and pain.
Due to their age and developmental stage pediatric patients are particularly vulnerable to pain and discomfort while recovering. Pain may have a major impact on a child’s physical and mental well-being, leading to increased stress and anxiety which can result in a longer recovery period.
5. Decreased Risk of Complications
Robotic surgery involves small cuts, which typically ranges between 5 to 12 mm in length, resulting in less damage to nearby tissue. The robotic system’s tremor-reducing, motion-scaling, and enhanced stability qualities reduces the possibility of complications and accidents during surgery.
Infections at the incision site are less common during robotic surgery. The pediatric robotic surgery reduces the need for blood transfusions because of the smaller incisions and less loss of blood, which in turn reduces the risk of transfusion outcomes and transfusion-related infections.
The mental and physical state of children is significantly more fragile than that of an adult. Therefore, it is essential for them to have a smooth surgical experience in order to avoid complications and discomfort post-surgery, which can cause anxiety and stress, delay recovery, and increase the risk of infections and complications.
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Conclusion
With a rise in technology, it is expected that pediatric robotic urology surgery will become even more advanced, with enhanced imaging, navigation, and feedback abilities. As a result, the urology issues can be diagnosed in early stages and it may be feasible to perform more complex procedures on pediatric patients while maintaining a higher level of precision and safety and minimum expense.
In future, we can hope that technologies such as enhanced AI algorithms can assist pediatric robotic surgeons with decision-making, planning, and execution of surgical procedures, resulting in more precise and pain-free treatment that offers a faster recovery time.
Dr. Gursev Sandlas
Hello, I'm Dr. Gursev Sandlas, a Pediatric Surgeon and Pediatric Urologist based in India. My areas of expertise include Pediatric Hepatobiliary surgery, minimal access surgery, and robotic procedures. Also, I offer specialized services in addressing bed-wetting issues and providing antenatal counseling.