What are the Advantages of Robotic Surgery in Colon Cancer?

Colon cancer is a serious disease that requires surgical intervention. In recent years, robotic surgery stands out as an important innovation used in this field. It offers significant advantages in colon cancer surgeries with its sensitivity and minimally invasive nature. Compared to traditional surgical methods, robotic surgery provides benefits such as a less traumatic operating process, faster recovery and reduced risk of complications. While this improves patients’ quality of life after surgery, it also contributes to increased surgical success. With these advantages, robotic surgery has become one of the most effective methods offered by modern medicine in the treatment of colon cancer.

What is Robotic Colon and Rectum Surgery?

It is a minimally invasive surgical method used in the treatment of diseases in the colon and rectum area. This method has an important place especially in the surgical treatment of colon and rectum cancers. Colon and rectum are critical organs located in the abdominal cavity and form the final stages of the digestive system. Surgeries performed in these areas require a careful approach both during and after surgery. Robotic surgery provides a great advantage to the surgeon in procedures performed in these sensitive areas.

Robotic Colon and Rectum Surgery includes procedures such as removing diseased tissues, cleaning tumors and making necessary repairs. This surgical method provides a great advantage, especially in rectal surgeries that require access to the deep pelvic area. It is difficult to reach these areas with traditional surgical methods and the sensitivity of the surgical procedure may be limited. But thanks to robotic surgery, surgeons can operate with high precision even in these narrow and hard-to-reach areas. This is of critical importance in completely removing tumors and preserving healthy tissues. The use of robotic technology in colon and rectum surgery depends on the stage of the disease and the location of the tumor. While tumor removal is generally simpler in early-stage colon cancers, surgery becomes more complex in advanced stages or rectal cancers. Robotic surgery offers surgeons superior control and flexibility in these complex situations, allowing more successful results to be achieved in protecting the sensitive tissues around tumors and preventing the spread of the disease.

In the treatment of colon and rectal cancers, lymph nodes may also need to be removed to minimize the risk of spread of the disease. Robotic surgery also offers the opportunity to perform this procedure more meticulously, which may increase patients’ long-term survival rates.

How is Colon Cancer Surgery Performed with Robotic Surgery?

Colon (intestinal) cancer surgery with robotic surgery is a process that requires high precision. This surgical method is performed through small incisions, called minimally invasive. Preoperative preparations begin with evaluating factors such as the patient’s general health condition and the location of the tumor. The surgeon takes into account the patient’s medical history, current health status, and the location of the tumor when creating a plan for the surgery. The anesthesiologist also evaluates the patient’s suitability for anesthesia. The robotic system to be used during the surgery is installed. The surgeon will manage the surgery via the robotic console.

The first stage of the surgery begins with making several small incisions in the patient’s abdominal area. A laparoscope (camera) is inserted into one of these incisions. The laparoscope provides a three-dimensional, high-resolution image of the inside of the abdomen. Robotic arms are placed in other incisions. These arms exactly mimic the movements made by the surgeon at the console and use surgical instruments. The surgeon manages the surgery by sitting at the robotic console. Commands given from the console are carried out precisely through robotic arms. At this stage, the surgeon carefully isolates the cancerous tissue in the colon or rectum area. The precise mobility provided by robotic arms allows the surgeon to remove the tumor without damaging the surrounding healthy tissues. At this stage, lymph nodes are also removed because these nodes are one of the areas at risk of cancer spreading.

Removing cancerous tissue is one of the most critical stages of surgery. Robotic surgery offers the opportunity to perform this procedure with extreme precision. The surgeon takes care to preserve the intact parts of the colon while removing the tumor tissue. This is important to preserve the patient’s bowel functions in the best possible way after surgery. The removed tumor tissue is sent for pathological examination. If necessary, the two ends of the colon are reconnected during surgery. This is called anastomosis and this process is vital for the continuity of intestinal functions. But in some cases, the surgeon may perform a temporary colostomy. Colostomy allows feces to be expelled through a bag opened into the abdominal area. This is usually implemented as a temporary measure.

What are the Advantages of Colon Cancer Surgery with Robotic Surgery?

Colon cancer surgeries performed with robotic surgery offer many important advantages. This method is especially preferred in the treatment of colon cancer, which requires delicate and complex surgical procedures. The main advantages of robotic surgery in colon cancer surgery can be listed as follows:

• Robotic surgery provides the surgeon with extremely precise control. The surgeon’s hand movements are imitated exactly by robotic arms. This allows even very fine and complex procedures to be performed with great accuracy during surgery.
• High sensitivity minimizes the risk of damage to healthy tissues around tumors.
• It is performed through much smaller incisions than traditional open surgery.
• In colon cancer surgeries, it is important to remove lymph nodes to minimize the risk of cancer spreading. Robotic surgery offers the opportunity to perform this procedure with extreme precision, which can increase surgical success rates.
• Robotic surgery, performed with small incisions, leaves fewer scars. This means more aesthetically pleasing results for patients.

Who Can Have Robotic Colon and Rectum Surgery?

It is a surgical method that can be applied to patients who meet certain criteria. The feasibility of this method depends on factors such as the patient’s general health condition, the stage of the disease and the location of the tumor. It stands out as an effective treatment option especially for patients with early and mid-stage colon and rectum cancer. The size of the tumor and its spread are important factors affecting the success of surgery. In the early stages, tumor removal and preservation of surrounding tissues can be performed with high accuracy by robotic surgery. Robotic colon and rectum surgery can also be applied in the following cases:

• Patients with Lymph Node Spread: Colon and rectal cancer has the potential to spread to the lymph nodes. In this case, robotic surgery allows for precise removal of lymph nodes. This method can help the surgeon remove lymph nodes more effectively, minimizing the risk of cancer spreading.
• Patients with Deep Tumors in the Pelvic Region: Robotic surgery provides a great advantage in the surgery of tumors located deep in the pelvic region, such as rectal cancer. Tumors in areas that are difficult to access with traditional methods can be better seen with robotic surgery.

Robotic surgery is suitable for patients who are in good general health and can tolerate anesthesia. Patients with serious heart, lung or other systemic diseases may not be suitable for this type of surgery. In this case, alternative surgical methods can be considered.