What is robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery?

Let’s start with the cliché that science and technology are the first productive force. An emerging surgical modality that has emerged in recent years, robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery, is gradually becoming the mainstream of surgical procedures. There are two main types of robotic laparoscopic operating systems in existence, the Zeus system and the da Vinci system, of which the da Vinci system has become the mainstream of the market due to factors such as commercial operation and technical practicality. The Zeus system is largely obsolete except for its video audio control system (Iso system) which is still in use in small numbers. Surgery from open surgery to laparoscopic surgery is a milestone technological advancement. The surgery is shifted from traditional large incisions to multiple small-hole type incisions, and the laparoscope provides a clearer intraoperative view of the surgery, and although it cannot completely replace traditional open surgery, its advantages such as minimally invasive and fast postoperative recovery have made this procedure rapidly popular worldwide. Subsequently, single-port laparoscopy with reduced perforation and laparoscopy through natural channels were derived, but it is still difficult to popularize because of its high requirements for instruments and surgeon technical experience. From laparoscopic surgery to robot-assisted laparoscopic surgical approach, the author believes that it is another milestone technological advancement in surgery. Laparoscopic surgery still has some insurmountable weaknesses, such as the difficulty of technical proficiency, the establishment of two-dimensional images in the monitor in three-dimensional images in the human brain, and then the surgical operation process, which requires a long learning curve. Laparoscopy is mostly a fixed joint instrument, and there are still limitations in performing delicate movements inside the human body. These weaknesses have been improved by today’s technological advances, with robotic laparoscopic surgical systems that provide a three-dimensional view during surgery and surgical instruments that have articulated arms that can rotate freely within the body over 100 degrees (sorry, I don’t remember the exact angle), increasing dexterity. Its operation is performed by the operator operating the robot on a simulator, which then precisely simulates the movements of the human hand and performs the surgical operation inside the body. To make a simple analogy, many people have played simulation games in 3d, and this surgical system is similar to that. Because of these advantages, the difficulty of surgery is greatly reduced, the learning curve for laparoscopy is greatly increased, and training in the operation of this system is even included in residency training in the United States. However, this system is not without its drawbacks, the main problem being the high cost of the whole system and its maintenance, which makes it available in only a few large hospitals in China. Another problem is that in general open surgery and laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon’s force feedback is a problem in the robotic system, which may be a bit abstract, simply put, the robot’s force cannot be freely controlled like human, so there are often cases of sutures and even instruments being damaged and broken in beginners. But this system is also being improved, the study on the robot power feedback is also in progress, the latest da Vinci system has a certain prevention mechanism, if the simulator suddenly came to a large activity signal, the system will automatically reduce the amplitude of activity and power, in order to avoid pulling the line, excessive tearing tissue and other situations, somewhat similar to the ABS system in the car, huh. I believe that as technology advances, this system will continue to improve, and perhaps in the near future, laparoscopic surgery will be replaced by this surgical approach.