5 Things You Should Know About Robot-Assisted Surgery

Surgery always comes with risks and downtime. However, advancements in medicine and techniques have significantly changed many medical procedures, allowing for better outcomes with fewer complications.

In many cases, these advancements involve minimally invasive techniques, which cause less trauma to your body. One advancement that has revolutionized surgery involves robot-assisted technologies.

Dr. Laureen Forgione-Rubino is a general surgeon with expertise in robot-assisted surgery. Not only does she work closely with primary care physicians, specialists, and oncologists in Manchester, Connecticut, but she’s on staff at four area hospitals and chief of surgery for the Eastern Connecticut Health Network.

In this blog, Dr. Forgione-Rubino shares the five things you should know about robot-assisted surgery. 

1. Your surgeon performs the procedure — not a robot

Robot-assisted surgery goes by several names, including robotic surgery. However, no matter what it’s called, it never involves a robot doing your procedure.

During robot-assisted surgery, a surgeon with advanced training in a robotic surgical system performs your operation. This technology has a computer with master controls connected to robotic arms with miniature surgical instruments and a high-definition camera. 

To perform your procedure, Dr. Forgione-Rubino stands at the master console and directs the robotic arms and tools while guided by the camera. The computer translates her movements to the instruments so they move exactly like Dr. Forgione-Rubino — only better.

2. The technology gives your surgeon complex precision

Your surgeon controls your surgery at every moment, but the robotic system provides greater precision and dexterity. Why? Because this advanced approach provides highly magnified, high-resolution images of your surgical site. 

On top of that, the robotic arms and instruments give your surgeon more flexibility, which enables them to perform highly complex and delicate procedures that may be impossible with traditional approaches. And often with far less trauma to your body. 

3. Robot-assisted surgery is often minimally invasive

Not all robot-assisted surgery falls into minimally invasive categories. However, many do. That means Dr. Forgione-Rubino can perform your surgery by making one or two tiny incisions instead of one large opening.

Surgeons can often insert the specialized robotic tools and camera into these smaller openings. Since the camera provides such excellent resolution, that’s all they need to visualize your surgical site and perform your procedure.

This minimally invasive approach has several advantages compared to traditional open surgeries. 

4. Robot surgery offers numerous benefits

As mentioned above, robot-assisted surgery gives your surgeon greater precision and dexterity, resulting in better outcomes. However, that’s only the beginning.

Additional benefits include:

• Less blood loss 
• Fewer complications and infections
• Shorter hospital stays 
• Less pain and scarring

It’s also common for robot-assisted surgeries to come with faster recovery times.

5. Surgeons can use robot-assisted surgery for numerous conditions

Finally, surgeons can use robot-assisted surgery for a number of conditions all over your body, including:

• General surgery
• Endometriosis and gynecologic surgery
• Thoracic and other heart surgeries
• Urologic and colorectal surgery
• Head and neck (transoral) surgery

However, robot-assisted surgery isn’t for everyone. Since Dr. Forgione-Rubino specializes in advanced surgical techniques — including robot-assisted technologies — she provides personalized guidance on the best method to treat your condition.

Do you need surgery? Schedule a consultation by calling Dr. Forgione-Rubino or requesting an appointment online today.