Robotic Colorectal Surgery

Robotic surgery for the prostate is practised widely in the USA and is now becoming more widespread in the UK. Robotic surgery for colorectal disease has become more common in South Korea, USA and Singapore as well as in several European centres in Germany, Italy, France and Spain. There are very few centres using the robot for colorectal surgery in the UK.

The da Vinci Surgical system is the equipment that is currently used worldwide. The da Vinci surgical system was developed to overcome the shortcomings of conventional laparoscopic (key hole) surgery. With conventional laparoscopic surgery the camera is not fixed, the view is in only 2 dimensions. The instruments used have only a limited range of movements. Precise dissection is more difficult, because of instrument length and natural surgeon tremor.

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Utilising the latest in surgical and robotics technologies the da Vinci system enables the surgeon is to operate through a few small incisions. The magnified 3D high-definition vision system and tiny wristed instruments that bend and rotate far greater than the human wrist allows the surgeon to operate with enhanced vision, precision, dexterity and control. The surgeon is 100% in control the using the da Vinci system which translates his or her hand movements into smaller, more, precise movements of the instruments inside the body. Finally by controlling the instruments in a seated position from a console, the surgeons are themselves less likely to suffer the back, neck or shoulder problems that are associated with longer conventional open or laparoscopic procedures.

The da Vinci Surgical System is beneficial for performing routine and complex surgery.

In summary the advantages of the da Vinci Surgical System over conventional laparoscopic surgery are:

  • 3-dimensional views with 10-fold magnification
  • a stable camera
  • stable operating
  • motion scaling allows tremor free movements
  • articulating instruments- endowrist
  • high precision suturing
  • excellent ergonomics

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital acquired its first da Vinci Surgical System in late 2013.

Tariq Ismail and Simon Radley are the first colorectal surgeons to complete training. The intensive training program involved on line modules, console simulation training, case observations in UK and Italy and hands on courses in Strasburg, Paris and Belgium to allow them to become trained da Vinci console surgeons. The training was completed by Tariq and Simon performing ‘live” procedures themselves under direct supervision of an experienced surgical mentor from the UK or Europe coming to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

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Simon Radley and Tariq Ismail answer the following questions about the da Vinci Surgical System:

So where do you think the robot is best used?

"The challenge of laparoscopic colorectal surgery is most profound within the pelvis and particularly for performing surgery for rectal cancers. These difficulties may be magnified in the narrow male pelvis, in obese patients and in patients with bulky tumours. In this situation the need for better and stable vision systems, retraction, exposure and articulating instruments becomes obvious”.

What about the time and cost?

“Whilst the da Vinci surgery may initially take longer and cost more per case there is increasing of evidence patient benefit in terms of fewer conversions to open surgery and some surgery may be achievable using the da Vinci Surgical System which could not easily performed using conventional laparoscopic techniques”

What other advantages do you see?

“ the 3D magnified views and instrument stability us to more clearly to see and preserve important pelvic nerves which we hope will eventually translate into fewer problems with bladder or sexual function post operatively”.

What is Robotic Surgery

Robotic surgery is a frequently misunderstood term.

The current robotic systems are all known as master slave units.

This means that the surgeon has complete control of the movements of the robotic arms and instruments, but that the robotic technology means that a much greater instrument movement and dexterity can be achieved allowing for much greater accuracy of dissection.

Advantages of Robotic Surgery

The da Vinci Surgical System is beneficial for performing routine and complex surgery.

The advantages of the da Vinci Surgical System over conventional laparoscopic surgery are:

  • 3-dimensional views with 10-fold magnification
  • a stable camera
  • stable operating
  • motion scaling allows tremor free movements
  • articulating instruments - endowrist
  • high precision suturing
  • excellent ergonomics

The Da Vinci System

The da Vinci System has been designed to improve upon conventional laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery in which the surgeon operates while standing, using hand-held, long-shafted instruments, which have no wrists.

The da Vinci System consists of a surgeon console that is typically in the same room as the patient and a patient-side cart which has four interactive robotic arms controlled from the console. Three of the arms are for tools that hold objects, scissors, retractors and electrocautery instruments. The fourth arm is for the camera. The camera has two lenses that gives the surgeon 10 times magnified stereoscopic vision from the console. The surgeon sits at the console and looks through two eye holes at a 3-D image of the procedure, meanwhile manoeuvring the arms with two hand controllers.

The surgical assistant sits close to the patient and is able to change the robotic instruments as required and pass swabs and sutures to the surgeon.

The da Vinci System wristed instruments bend and rotate far greater than the human wrist. As a result the surgeon is able to operate with enhanced vision, precision, dexterity and control. The surgeon is 100% in control of the da Vinci System, which translates hand movements into smaller, more precise movements of the instruments inside the body a process known as motion scaling.

Finally by controlling the instruments in a seated position from a console, the surgeons are themselves less likely to suffer the back, neck or shoulder problems that are associated with longer conventional open or laparoscopic procedures.

The use of Robotic Surgery for Colorectal surgery

Robotic surgery for the prostate is practised widely in the USA and is now becoming more widespread in the UK. Robotic surgery for colorectal disease has become more common in South Korea, USA and Singapore as well as in several European centres in Germany, Italy, France and Spain. There are very few centres using the robot for colorectal surgery in the UK.

Nearly 1.5 million procedures have been performed world wide using the da Vinci system.

The advantages of using a robotic approach may become particularly relevant in low rectal surgery, such as anterior resection or abdominoperineal excision of the rectum. Here, as the surgeon operates lower in the pelvis, the need for better and stable optical systems retraction exposure and articulating instruments becomes evident.

Robotic surgery has been used to treat rectal prolapse and to perform posterior rectopexy and ventral mesh rectopexy. The dissection is enhanced and the articulating instruments provide the ability to precision suturing within the pelvis.

Robotic proctectomy as part of an ileal pouch procedure is a technically challenging procedure laparoscopically. The use of a robot can facilitate the rectal resection as the platform provides a better and stable optical system, better retraction and exposure which allows easier low dissection and rectal cross stapling.

Again the benefits may be more evident in the narrow male pelvis or in the obese patient.

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