What are the risks of robotic-assisted surgery?
Robotic-assisted surgery is major surgery performed through small incisions. It has the same kinds of risks that open surgery has including injuries to intra-abdominal organs. There are risks of medical complications such as stroke, heart attacks and blood clots in the legs. General anesthesia is generally very safe, but occasionally there are complications with this as well. Use of small incisions for laparoscopy usually means less pain and discomfort compared to large abdominal incisions. Therefore, robotic and standard laparoscopic surgery can minimize the risks of wound infections, pneumonia and blood clots in the legs, because only small incisions are required. The benefits of any surgical procedure cannot be guaranteed. Pre-operative assessment of a patient’s overall health is a key element in every surgical decision at UC Davis. Successful outcomes depend on both the patient and the procedure. Patients should always discuss all the treatment options with their physician to under
