What are the patient benefits associated with robotic-assisted surgery?
With robotic-assisted surgery, patients typically experience less blood loss (fewer transfusions) and less pain. Also, because incisions are much smaller and patients experience less trauma than in open surgery, patient benefits may include a shorter hospital stay, less risk of infection, less scarring, faster recovery and a quicker return to normal daily activities. In cardiac and thoracic surgery, robotics has an additional benefit of not requiring a sternotomy. In prostate cancer surgery, robotics often results in fewer incidences of incontinence and sexual dysfunction. And in gynecologic surgery, patients often have less pelvic pain. However, none of these benefits can be guaranteed, as surgery can be both patient- and procedure-specific.
