INTEGRATED THEATRES
Minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery
Both in the UK and around the world there is increasing focus on what the future of surgery holds. Phil Bradshaw, general manager for UK and Ireland, Intuitive Surgical, explores what it may look like, how it might differ from today, and the role can technology play in enabling surgeons and operating room (OR) teams to advance patient care and improve patient outcomes.
The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) is among the organisations asking about the future of surgery. The RCS recently launched the Commission on the Future of Surgery, which is examining how to harness technology and ensure that systems and training are in place to realise the potential of new innovations that could enhance health outcomes - and quality of life for patients. Additionally, the Commission is looking at technologies which could potentially improve the work of - and working environment for - surgeons and wider hospital teams; as well as addressing some of the current capacity and
resource challenges faced by our health and social care system. Minimally invasive, robotic-assisted surgery is a central item for discussion and input. Intuitive Surgical pioneered robotic- assisted surgery (RAS) more than two decades ago and, during that time, has demonstrated how RAS can contribute to patient care, while offering a range of benefits to surgeons, OR teams and the broader healthcare system. Having recently joined Intuitive, maker of the da Vinci robotic-assisted surgical system, to lead the UK operation, I am proud of what we do: providing minimally invasive tools, technologies
Phil Bradshaw
and solutions for the whole surgical and hospital community in order to make a difference for UK patients. Our work and focus is on providing minimally invasive solutions to help realise the promise and potential of the future of surgery today, and into the future.
What is robotic-assisted surgery? It is sometimes incorrectly assumed that ‘robotic surgery’ means displacing surgeons with machines. That is not the case. Surgeons are at the heart of what Intuitive does today and how we envision the future evolution of surgery. RAS is a surgeon-enhancing technology where minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is carried out through a few (and, in future, just one - or no) small incisions. During a robotic-assisted surgical
procedure, the surgeon sits at a console while viewing a high-definition, 3D image of the patient’s target anatomy. The robotic system enables the surgeon’s hand movements to be scaled, filtered and translated into precise, tremor-free instrument movements inside the patient’s body. This can improve precision, control, flexibility and can reduce variation that can be dependent on the experience and expertise of the individual surgeon.
18 l JULY 2018 l OPERATING THEATRE
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