Hospitals in Bangkok have been introducing high-tech surgical robots to assist medical teams with a promise of better accuracy, and a safer and shorter hospital stay for patients.
Surgical robotic technology is designed to assist surgeons’ accuracy during urologic surgical procedures.
Highly magnified 3D HD technology allows surgeons to see a surgical site with improved depth perception and clear vision.
Meanwhile, the instruments bend and rotate far beyond the abilities of the human hand. With high motion technologies, the robot allows surgeons to operate with a steady motion than is not humanly possible.
Patients are happy with the operation done by the robot due to less pronounced wounds after operations. The robot’s technique helps patients recover quickly, reducing their hospital stay. That in turn frees up beds for patients.
The robotic arms are developed to be close to people’s hands, in terms of movement, but they can go deeper to small parts of the body that need procedures.
A surgeon requires at least 30 hours to be trained on how to use the robot, before performing an operation on a patient.
Many patients with cancer and complex diseases have already been operated on by the robot.
Around 85% of operations by the robot are related to diseases found in the throat, ears and nose, 11% for gynaecology, and 2% for prostate and kidney cancer.
There are surgical robots in the country at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Siriraj Hospital, Rajavithi Hospital and Ramathibodi Hospital. It is estimated that there are 5,270 surgical robots working around the world.
Robots are not only time-saving, but also provide safety to patients by reducing direct contact between patients and medical teams.
