Minimally Invasive Surgery
Minimally invasive surgery takes advantage of advances in computer imaging and robotics to provide effective surgical cancer treatment with a much smaller impact on the patient. Using tiny, tubelike cameras that look inside the body, miniaturized instruments and imaging machines that provide real-time views in the operating room, minimally invasive surgeries result in much smaller incisions and decreased recovery time. Advantages of minimally invasive surgery include:
- Less blood loss
- Decreased need for blood transfusions
- Shorter hospital stays
- Decreased pain and need for postoperative pain medications
- Earlier resumption of regular diet
- Quicker recovery and return to normal activities
- Less scarring and improved cosmetic appearance
Robotic Surgery
Robotic surgery systems consist of one or more robotic arms, precisely controlled by surgeons seated at a console, which enlarges 3-D views of the surgery site. The arms are tipped with an endoscope for viewing the treatment area, or surgical instruments that can fit into an incision less than an inch long. The instrument handles that control the robotic arms have the added benefit of reducing surgeon fatigue during long or complicated surgeries and eliminating "hand tremor."
M. D. Anderson uses the Da Vinci® robotic surgery system, which has four robotic arms like the one pictured right. Although the robotic arms are doing the actual surgery, they still require direct input from the surgeon and cannot be merely programmed to operate without human intervention.
Candidates for robotic-assisted surgery include patients undergoing prostatectomy, hysterectomy, thoracic procedures and some general surgeries.
Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS)
VATS can be used to aid in the diagnosis of lung and esophageal cancers. Using a limited number of tiny incisions, small diameter video-thoracoscopes can allow examination of the entire thoracic cavity (see diagram at right). Biopsies of the lining of the chest cavity (pleura), lung nodules, mediastinal masses and pleural fluid can easily be obtained for diagnosis. In certain instances, definitive therapy can be performed at the same time, such as pleurodesis for pleural effusions. VATS is the technique of choice for the diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma. The procedure usually requires an overnight stay in hospital.
Multimedia
Minimally Invasive Surgery for Lung & Prostate Cancers (40:46)
Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy (RALP)
- Part 1: Patient Informed Consent (17:21)
- Part 2: Patient Education (17:20)
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