Minimally invasive and robotic surgery

Through small incisions the surgeon introduces a laparoscope, which displays the inside of the body on a monitor, and specialized instruments used to free and remove the tumor. In robotic-assisted surgery a computer-assisted system translates the movements of the surgeon's hands at a console into precise movements of miniature instruments on robotic arms; the magnified, three-dimensional image helps the surgeon work in confined spaces. This approach is used, for example, in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer and in transoral robotic surgery for hard-to-reach tumors of the mouth and throat. At every stage the operation is performed by the surgeon, not by the robot. Minimally invasive techniques generally mean smaller wounds and less recovery time than open surgery, but they are not suitable for every patient or every tumor, and the surgical team may need to convert to an open operation if the situation requires it.