With the advent of robotic surgery in the field of medicine, people often wonder how much better it is in comparison to traditional surgery. Dr. Sandeep Nayak is a veteran in this field and only a renowned cancer specialist in Bangalore like him should be trusted with when it comes to such intricate surgeries. This article will cover what is cancer, the types of treatment and why opt for robotic or laparoscopic cancer surgery over traditional surgery.
Let’s dive right in!
What is cancer?
Cancer breaks down the orderly process of cell lifecycle. Old and abnormal cells survive when they should be dying, and new cells form when they are not required. These extra cells divide and may form growth called a tumour.
Cell lifecycle
Cancer infected cell lifecycle
| Cancer Cells | Normal Cells |
| Less specialized | More specialized |
| Are able to ignore signals that ask them to stop dividing. | Follow all the signal by default. |
| May be able to invade the immune system. | Do not infect the immune system. |
| Capable of influencing normal cells, molecules and blood vessels. | Get influenced by cancer cells. |
| Some cancer cells can hide from the immune system. | Show no such behaviour. |
Changes in the human body in cancer:
According to Dr Sandeep Nayak, changes in the genes that affect how our cells function, lead to cancer. It may happen due to errors that occur while cells divide or because of damage to DNA. If you feel that you are experiencing cancer symptoms or you want to go further with your treatment, ClinicSpots is an online health facilitator that can help you. For more information about hospitals you can get yourselves treated in, Click Here.
Environmental factors causing cancer:
- Radiation
- UV Rays from the sun
- Tobacco
Types of treatment
- Radiation Therapy
- Chemotherapy’
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Hormone Therapy
- Stem cell transplant
- Precision medicine
Surgery:
- Traditional Surgery- In this traditional open surgery, the surgeon cuts open the entire organ in order to access the cancer tumour.
- Laparoscopic Surgery: Putting a long, thin tube through a cut in the body to check for cancer. It helps to reduce blood loss during surgery and pain afterwards.
- Robotics Surgery: Type of laparoscopic surgery wherein the doctor can perform surgery through a control panel.
- Laser Surgery: A highly focused beam of light is used to kill the infected cells.
- Cryosurgery: Using liquid nitrogen spray to freeze and kill abnormal cells.
- Electrosurgery: Using high-frequency electric current to kill abnormal cells.
- Mohs Surgery: Used to remove skin cancer by shaving one layer at a time.
- Thoracoscopic Surgery: The thin tube is inserted along with a camera inside the body so that the doctor to see inside the body.
Benefits of Laparoscopy over traditional surgery
| Doctors | Patients | Technology
|
| Can provide minimal invasive surgery | Smaller incisions | Motion Scaling
|
| Operating at a superior level | Decreased blood loss | Enhanced Magnification
|
| Greater precision | Less pain | Superior Ergonomics |
| Accuracy | Quick healing | 3D-vision
|
| Given them an edge over surgeons who perform traditional surgery | Smaller hospital stays | Tremor filtering
|
| Technologically advanced | Faster return to normal life | Enhanced dexterity
|
| Precise removal of cancerous tissue | Less scarring | Precision and control
|
Laparoscopy and robotic surgery in India
Minimal invasive surgery for cancer patients was welcomed in India with the introduction of the da Vinci Si surgical system. The robotic revolution was brought in India by All India Institute of Medical Sciences in 2006.
However, Robotics has not progressed in India since the da Vinci system is not only expensive but also has a high maintenance cost. It costs more than $ 1.5 million. Hence, very few clinics have da Vinci system and not all the doctors can perform Laparoscopy. Famous oncologist Dr.Sandeep Naik is an expert at robotics, with 20 years of experience. He is amongst the few doctors in India who are trained in minimally invasive treatment for cancer and hence is one of the best oncologists in Bangalore.
This is the step by step procedure of Laparoscopic surgery:
1) Multiple 0.5 to 1 cm incisions are made. These incisions are called port.
2) Trochar(a tubular instrument) is inserted into each port.
3) Trochars are used to pass a camera and other instruments during the procedure
4) The abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide so that the surgeon can easily view the infected area and perform surgery over it.
5)The laparoscope transmits images from the body to the monitors in the operation theatre, this helps the surgeon to monitor the body.
How is Robotics surgery different from Laparoscopic surgery?
Robotic surgery is a type of Laparoscopic surgery that involves operating through small incisions, but it is performed by robotic arms. The doctor sits at a control panel. This procedure is performed through a machine called da Vinci. It has high motion scaling which helps in reducing the instrument’s degree of movement with respect to the surgeon’s finger movement and hence has more precision. There is better visualization and hence the risk of harming a nerve or any other critical organ is low.
