Robots as good as human surgeons, study finds
Robots as good as human surgeons, study finds
By Laura Donnelly, health editor 27 JULY 2016 • 6:01AM
Surgery performed by robots is just as successful as
operations carried out by surgeons, a major trial has found.
The study of prostate cancer patients found those whose
gland was removed by a machine were doing as well after three months as those
who went under the knife in the traditional way.
They experienced less pain doing day to day activities a
week later, and reported better overall physical quality of life after six
weeks, but this levelled out over time.
Those undergoing robot surgery also lost far less blood
and spent less time in hospital.
There was no difference in urinary and sexual function,
or the number of complications, the research published in the Lancet found.
Robotic surgery has become increasingly common in the UK
over the last decade.
Most common is the da Vinci robot, a set of robotic arms
controlled by a human surgeon sitting a few feet away.
A high magnification 3D camera allows the surgeon to see
inside the patient's body through a keyhole incision.
The camera is attached to one of four arms on the machine
- the other three hold other surgical instruments needed during the operation.
There are currently 58 in the NHS, undertaking operations
for a variety of common complaints, from the removal of kidney and bladder
cancers to basic heart surgery.
Their main use is in surgical removal of the prostate
gland, called a prostatectomy, in men with prostate cancer, which is the most
common cancer in men.
In 2012, 1,595 of these operations were carried out in
the UK using robots - 29 per cent of the total performed.
The Australian trial examined quality of life outcomes
for 308 men with prostate cancer, half of whom were randomly assigned to
receive robot assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy, while half had open surgery.
Patients who underwent open surgery lost on average three
times more blood, although no transfusions were needed because it was recycled
back.
Urinary and sexual function can continue to improve for
up to three years, so differences between the groups may become apparent later
on, researchers said.
A million men are diagnosed with prostate cancer
worldwide each year, including more than 47,000 in the UK.
Professor Robert 'Frank' Gardiner, of the University of
Queensland, Brisbane, said: "Many clinicians claim the benefits of robotic
technology lead to improved quality of life and oncological outcomes. Our
randomised trial, the first of its kind, found no statistical difference in
quality of life outcomes between the two groups at 12 weeks follow up."
He said further follow-up would examine longer-term
outcomes, including on cancer survival.
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