The Differences Between Laparoscopy and Robotic Surgery in Terms of Patient Comfort

It is known that laparoscopy has limits in certain technical matters. In laparoscopic surgery one works on a two-dimensional image; the sense of touch is present, albeit slightly; the capacity for movement is restricted. The instruments used are in the form of a straight rod. That is why hand and wrist movements are limited. The remote surgical applications designed by NASA in the 1980s led the way to the development of robot technology. The technology used today was approved by the FDA in the 2000s and made available for surgical use within the same room. Robotic surgery provides, to a great extent, all the advantages offered by laparoscopic surgery, such as faster recovery, a shorter hospital stay, a quicker return to daily life and less bleeding during the operation. In addition, because the robotic system allows movements such as wrist movements to be made, the possibility of manoeuvre is greater than in laparoscopy, and many difficult procedures can easily be carried out under a three-dimensional image and thanks to the jointed movement. When laparoscopy and the robotic system are compared, there is not much difference between the operating times. Only, in laparoscopy the limitation of movement and working in a two-dimensional setting bring robotic surgery a little more to the fore. In the robotic system, excellent visibility is provided thanks to the three-dimensional image and it becomes possible to make fine movements. Anatomical structures are seen in great detail. Because small vessels and nerves are noticed, less bleeding and less tissue damage develop. The additional advantages of the method are safety, the multidirectional nature of the movements, the three-dimensional image, taking part in the operation from a distance and the surgeon performing the procedure seated. Because there is no sense of touch in robotic surgery, the surgeon has to make use of visual cues to determine the force to be applied to the tissues. The set-up before the operation requires special experience. The difficulty in changing the positions of the instrument or camera ports, the time it takes to change the patient’s position during the operation, and delays in intervening with the patient immediately are among the disadvantages of robotic surgery. Along with this, robotic surgery can be preferred in complex operations in which laparoscopy cannot be applied effectively.