Posted by Nathan /07 Aug, 2023 / Lifesciences and Healthcare
Minimally invasive surgery is a surgical procedure, which is executed through smaller incisions, rather than larger openings. Advanced laparoscopic surgery, endoscopy surgery, hysteroscopic surgery, robotic surgery, vaginal surgery, and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery are the major minimally invasive surgeries. During minimally invasive surgery, a surgeon uses a tiny camera, slender instruments, trochars, and remote manipulation tools among others. Some of the benefits of these surgeries include lesser pain, lower risk of infection, less blood loss, less trauma, less scarring, fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, and shorter recovery time for the patients. Minimally invasive surgeries are also useful for adrenalectomy, colectomy, colon, and rectal surgery, endovascular surgery, ear surgery, gastroenterological surgery, gynecologic surgery, heart surgery, kidney transplant, nephrectomy, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, thoracic surgery, and urologic surgery among others.
Robotic-assisted surgery is gaining more applications, as it allows doctors to carry out various complex procedures, with better control, flexibility, and precision. Robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgeries have played a major role in the decrease of laparoscopic surgeries worldwide. The use of robotic techniques for Inguinal hernia repair has increased significantly in recent years. Some of the other major FDA-approved robotic surgical procedures include weight loss surgeries, otolaryngology, gynecologic oncology, cardiothoracic surgery, general surgery, urology, colorectal surgery, and gynecology among others.
Real-time imaging such as ultrasonic imaging, thermal imaging, and magnetic resonance imaging are providing better image evidence for doctors to carry out robotic surgeries. The use of interventional fluoroscopy is increasing in minimally invasive surgeries. Fluoroscopy provides doctors X-ray vision of body organs and their detailed motion on a monitor. It also provides a precise view of blood vessels, bones, and tissues. Meanwhile, there are laser projectors for projecting the two-dimensional and three-dimensional visuals of the internal organs with higher clarity during surgeries. The researchers at the Harvard SEAS and Wyss Institute developed a laser steering device, which is adequately flexible to reach interior parts of the gastrointestinal tract, with minimal damage to peripheral tissues.
Minimally invasive surgery is finding a major role in cancer diagnosis and treatment. It is useful in detecting cancer types such as breast, cervical, gastric, and lung. Laser-based minimally invasive surgeries are useful for burning and destroying precancerous growths and tumors. Moreover, they are useful for treating cancers in the bladder, cervix, kidney, lung, prostate, skin, vagina, and vulva. Robotic surgery is useful for treating cancers in the uterus, colon, and prostate.
Telepresence surgery, telementoring, and telerobotics are expanding the scope of minimally invasive surgery. A telepresence surgery system allows a surgeon to carry out the operation on a faraway patient by utilizing real-time stereo audio, three-dimensional vision, and haptic feedback-based remote-control manipulators or robotic arms. Faster internet connection through broadband or 5G technology allows telepresence of faraway surgeons in real-time and thereby allowing them to train or telementor the surgeons.
Predictive modeling is helping doctors to identify patients suitable for minimally invasive surgery. The scoring model comprises imaging and preoperative biochemical information. As per predictive modeling, minimally invasive surgery is highly recommended for spontaneous cerebral hemorrhage patients. Artificial Intelligence using Big Data is going to radically transform minimally invasive surgery. It is possible to capture data from surgical workflows. Efficient workflows allow the workforce to have what they require at the correct place and time, thereby reducing errors and time wastage. Predictive modeling can assist surgeons in predicting the outcomes of their surgical actions. Artificial intelligence assistance will give outcomes of a surgical procedure or action and help surgeons in providing a real-time response with higher accuracy. AI-assisted robots will be able to analyze pre-operation medical records for guiding the instrument of the surgeon amidst the surgery. Machine learning has applications in robotic surgery such as evaluating surgical skills, improvement in surgical robotic materials, developing surgical workflow modeling, and suturing automation. With the help of big data, and artificial intelligence computer-assisted minimally invasive surgery might become fully automated in the future.