Türkçe
Deutsch
Robotic surgery is a surgical method performed through advanced systems that operate under the control of the surgeon, providing high precision and a minimally invasive approach. This technology is not fully autonomous, and all procedures are carried out under the surgeon’s guidance.
Among the misconceptions about robotic surgery is the belief that the system performs the operation on its own; however, the robot only reflects the surgeon’s hand movements in a more stable and precise manner. This method helps reduce human error, but the decision-making mechanism belongs entirely to the surgeon.
When the advantages and risks of robotic surgery are evaluated, smaller incisions, less blood loss, and a faster recovery process stand out; however, it may not be suitable for every patient. Suitability is determined according to the type and stage of the disease and the patient’s general health condition.
A common misconception about the cost and accessibility of robotic surgery is that it is always much more expensive and unnecessary. However, in the long term, shorter hospital stays and reduced complication rates may balance the total treatment cost.
Is Robotic Surgery Suitable for Every Patient?
Robotic surgery is not a suitable option for every patient and every urological disease. The patient’s general health condition, the type, size, and stage of the disease, and previous surgeries affect the applicability of this method. Especially in patients with advanced-stage cancer or in areas anatomically inaccessible to the robot, classical surgical methods may be preferred. In addition, conditions such as intra-abdominal adhesions or obesity may make robotic surgery more difficult in some patients. Each patient’s age, weight, chronic diseases, previous surgeries, and the location of the tumor or disease must definitely be evaluated. As a surgical method, robotic surgery is a treatment alternative that the doctor and patient should decide on together. After reviewing the patient’s detailed medical history, physical examination, and radiological findings, the surgeon informs the patient whether robotic surgery is appropriate. Robotic surgery offers a technological opportunity, but if proper patient selection is not made, the desired results may not be achieved. Patient-specific planning directly affects the success of treatment. Therefore, a very careful evaluation process is required for every patient who is a candidate for robotic surgery.
Is Robotic Surgery Risky?
Robotic surgery is no longer experimental and is a technique used safely and widely worldwide. Robotic surgery, which was first introduced in the 2000s, attracts attention with high success rates especially in the field of urology (such as prostate cancer, kidney tumors, and bladder cancer). This method, which enables the surgeon to move more precisely, reduces the risk of complications while shortening the postoperative recovery time. In addition, the risk of blood loss and infection is lower. Comparative studies conducted especially among patients undergoing prostate cancer surgery have shown that the need for blood transfusion is lower in those operated on with robotic surgery. Of course, as with every surgical method, robotic surgery may also have some risks; for example, complications such as bleeding, infection, and urinary incontinence may occur during or after the operation. However, these risks are largely controlled by the surgeon’s experience and the infrastructure of the center. When patients are operated on by a reliable and experienced team in this field, safer results can be achieved with robotic surgery compared to open surgery. In addition, complication rates are lower in robotic surgery centers equipped with new technologies. Robotic surgery is one of the most reliable surgical technologies in modern medicine today.
Is Robotic Surgery Used Only in Cancer Treatment?
When robotic surgery is mentioned in urology, prostate cancer immediately comes to mind. However, this technology is successfully used in many different diseases such as kidney tumors, bladder cancer, and ureteral strictures. Robotic systems provide great advantages to surgeons especially in complex operations such as kidney-sparing surgery and radical nephrectomy. In urology, in cases where part of the kidney needs to be removed, robotic surgery allows only the diseased area to be removed rather than the entire kidney, and healthy tissue can be preserved. In addition, robotic surgery can also be applied in pediatric urology for the treatment of some congenital anomalies. Robotic surgery offers the opportunity to work precisely in hard-to-reach areas and facilitates the preservation of organs. In bladder tumors or the opening of strictures in the ureter, the operation can be completed with minimal tissue damage. In this way, the operation can be completed with less trauma compared to classical surgery. In other words, robotic surgery is a method that can offer hope not only for prostate conditions but also for a much wider patient group.
Is the Recovery Period After Robotic Surgery Long?
Although it is thought that the recovery process of operations performed with robotic surgery is the same as classical surgery, there may be significant differences in practice. Since smaller incisions can be used in robotic surgery, postoperative pain may be less, and the risk of infection and blood loss may be lower. The hospital stay may be shortened and the patient may return to daily life more quickly. Small surgical scars may also provide an aesthetic advantage. Of course, this recovery process may vary depending on the patient’s age, general health condition, and the scope of the surgery. However, in general, it may be possible for patients to experience a more comfortable recovery process with robotic surgery. While patients can usually be discharged within 1–3 days after operations performed with the robotic system, this period may be longer in classical surgery. The patient returns to work and social life in a short time, experiences less physical trauma, and can continue daily life more comfortably. Due to these advantages, robotic surgery may be preferred in suitable patients.
Is Robotic Surgery Expensive?
Robotic surgery can be considered an expensive method because it requires high technology. However, when advantages such as rapid recovery, short hospital stay, and low complication rate are taken into account in the long term, the total cost may be similar to or lower than classical surgery. For example, factors such as reduced hospital stay, lower infection risk, and reduced need for blood transfusion in robotic surgery may balance the cost. In addition, patients returning to work and social life more quickly is also an important economic gain. Today, robotic surgery can be performed not only in private hospitals but also in university and public hospitals. The cost and payment conditions of each hospital may vary. Therefore, patients should definitely obtain information about costs and payment options before surgery. In addition, some private health insurance plans and government support may cover part of the expenses of robotic surgery. Robotic surgery is no longer a difficult-to-access method that appeals only to a certain group; it has become a more widespread and accessible treatment option.
Are Sexual Functions Lost After Robotic Surgery?
In some urological surgeries such as prostate cancer, the risk of loss of sexual function may come to the agenda. In robotic surgery, nerve-sparing techniques can be applied more precisely and safely. Thanks to high-resolution, three-dimensional imaging and meticulous dissection, the chance of preserving sexual functions may increase. Since the surgeon can protect important nerves and vessels with high precision during the operation, it may be possible to preserve erectile function after surgery. Of course, the same result cannot be achieved in every patient; the patient’s age, preoperative functions, and the extent of the disease also affect the outcome. In particular, the meticulous work and close visualization of nerves provided by robotic surgery may allow sexual function to be preserved at a higher rate compared to classical surgery. Still, better results can be achieved with robotic surgery in preserving sexual functions compared to classical surgery. Patients are advised to share detailed information with their doctors on this issue and clarify their expectations. Sexual rehabilitation programs before and after surgery also contribute to the success of treatment.
Is Urinary Incontinence Seen After Robotic Surgery?
Urinary incontinence after prostate surgery can be a major concern among patients. In robotic surgery, care can be taken to preserve the muscles and nerves that provide urinary control. Thanks to the precision offered by robotic systems, the risk of postoperative urinary incontinence can be reduced. Scientific studies show that urinary control can be regained more quickly in patients operated on with robotic surgery compared to classical surgery. Thanks to the three-dimensional imaging advantage of robotic surgery, the surgeon can better identify and preserve the structures that provide urinary control. Of course, absolute success cannot be guaranteed in every patient; the surgeon’s experience, the patient’s general condition, and the postoperative process also affect the outcome. Pelvic floor exercises and physiotherapy are recommended after surgery to minimize the risk of urinary incontinence. Still, it can be said that the rate of urinary incontinence can be reduced with robotic surgery. Thanks to modern robotic surgery techniques, most patients regain their previous urinary control within a few weeks or months. This process can be made even easier with preoperative counseling and postoperative support.
Can Robotic Surgery Be Applied to Every Type of Surgery?
Since robotic surgery is based on the latest technology and is a comfortable method for patients, it may be thought that this method can be used in all types of operations. Robotic surgery is primarily widely preferred in some branches where minimally invasive methods are suitable, especially in urology, obstetrics and gynecology, and general surgery. In urology, it can be successfully applied especially in prostate, kidney, and bladder surgeries; in gynecology, in hysterectomy and some cyst operations; and in general surgery, in some bowel and stomach operations.
Robotic surgery is not suitable for every operation. First of all, the setup and preparation of the robotic system require a certain amount of time and technical infrastructure. In very urgent operations, such as sudden bowel perforation, severe internal bleeding, or trauma, classical open surgical methods may be faster and safer. In addition, robotic surgery is often not suitable for some cardiac surgery operations, vascular surgeries, and procedures performed in very young children. Furthermore, in centers where robotic systems are not used or where teams are inexperienced, choosing the robotic method for every operation may reduce the chance of success.
Is There a Radiation Risk During Robotic Surgery?
While robotic surgery offers many advantages in terms of the integration of technology into health care, various safety-related questions may arise in the minds of some patients and their relatives. One of these concerns is whether radiation exposure occurs during robotic surgery. Especially because of the advanced technology and high-resolution cameras used in operations, patients may think that they could be exposed to radiation during the procedure. However, this is a common but unfounded concern.
In reality, neither patients nor surgeons are exposed to radiation during robotic surgery. In robotic surgery, essentially, the surgeon directing the operation sees the surgical field enlarged and clearly with the help of a three-dimensional high-resolution camera. This imaging is carried out entirely through optical and digital systems. The robotic arms used operate entirely on mechanical and electrical principles; they do not contain any radiation source. Throughout the operation, there is no beam, X-ray, or similar radiation applied to the patient’s body.
Of course, some diagnostic procedures and imaging methods in the medical field (for example, CT, MRI, or X-ray) involve radiation. However, robotic surgery itself is a treatment method, and such devices are not used during the procedure. Except for some scans taken during the planning stage of the operation, the surgical process takes place completely without radiation.
Do Incision Scars Completely Disappear with Robotic Surgery?
Robotic surgery stands out in modern medicine as a minimally invasive method that increases aesthetics and patient comfort. One of the most important advantages for patients is that very small incisions are made in operations performed with this technique, resulting in fewer scars. In robotic surgery, instead of a large incision as in traditional open surgeries, several small holes, usually 5 to 8 millimeters in diameter, are opened in the abdomen. The surgeon performs the operation by placing the robot’s arms and camera into the abdomen through these holes. These small incisions heal with cosmetically very satisfactory and minimal scars in most patients during the postoperative period.
However, it is not realistic to say that “no scar remains” after robotic surgery. As with every surgical intervention, the incisions made in robotic operations leave a certain scar on the skin. These scars fade over time, become a thin line, and may generally become barely noticeable depending on the person’s body structure, skin type, and wound healing. Scars may heal faster especially in young, healthy, and fair-skinned individuals. In dark-skinned individuals or those with slow wound healing, scars may remain slightly more noticeable. In addition, although rarely, scar enlargement (keloid) or color change may be seen at the incision sites.
For patients with aesthetic concerns, robotic surgery definitely offers a major advantage compared to classical surgery. The very low risk of large surgical scars and herniation helps patients feel more comfortable in the postoperative period. Unlike the wide and noticeable scars that occur especially in open surgeries performed in the abdominal area, robotic surgery usually leaves minimal scars that can be easily hidden under a bikini or underwear.
Prof. Dr. Berkan Reşorlu, born in Ankara in 1979, completed his medical education at Ankara University between 1997 and 2003, and his specialization in urology at Ankara University Faculty of Medicine between 2003 and 2008. Academically, he received the title of associate professor in 2013 and professor in 2022.
He has conducted extensive case series studies in the field of endoscopic stone surgery, contributed surgeries performed on children under the age of 1 to the literature, and has gained international recognition with his stone scoring system and experimental surgical models.
