Colorectal surgery
Less invasive surgery, robotic surgery
The surgical treatment of colon and rectal cancer is particularly complex due to the anatomical difficulty offered by the bone pelvis. Thanks to the da Vinci robot, surgeons can access these organs by removing and reconstructing the digestive tract with greater precision and safety.
Robotic surgery provides surgeons with three-dimensional vision, an ergonomic position, a greater range of movements and complete elimination of tremor, thus allowing a fine dissection of the tissue and a drastic reduction of abdominal trauma.
What is robotic colorectal surgery?
Da Vinci robotic surgery is a state-of-the-art surgical procedure, in which the conventional laparoscopic technique is combined with high-precision robotic technology thanks to 4 robotic arms that are comfortably commanded by the surgeon from the surgical console and also using an immersive 3D high definition image. The robotic arms have a joint that grants the same movement capacity as the human wrist, so the surgeon can perform complex procedures with precision and safety.
The complex anatomy of the pelvis has been since the beginnings of surgery a territory of tremendous challenges and adversities. The advantages of robotic surgery allow surgeons to access complex cases in a minimally invasive manner, significantly reducing the conversion rate to open surgery, intra-operative bleeding and complications. From an oncological point of view, robotic assistance allows complete resection of the mesorectum (total mesorectal excision, TME) in a greater number of highly complex patients.
The robotic surgery allows operating with ergonomics, precision and safety, which translates into less abdominal trauma, less suture leakage and lower complication rate.
Robotic surgery advantages
Thanks to da Vinci robotic surgery, significant benefits are achieved, including:
-
More accurate tissue dissection
-
Less post-operative pain and less use of anti-inflammatories
-
Less chance of anastomotic leak
-
Less blood loss and less need for transfusions
-
Lower risk of complications
-
Shorter hospital stay
-
Faster recovery and earlier return to usual activities
Is robotic surgery right for me?
Probably yes. The use of the da Vinci robot extends to virtually all abdominal surgical interventions performed by surgeons, including surgery for the treatment of colon and rectal cancer.
Benefits of colorectal robotic surgery
Lower conversion rate to open surgery
It has been shown that conversion to laparotomy is associated with a worse oncological prognosis and higher mortality. Multiple studies show that robotic surgery is associated with a lower conversion rate than laparoscopic surgery.
Better neurovascular preservation
In the surgical treatment of rectal cancer, sexual function is significantly affected after laparoscopic surgery. A face-to-face analysis showed that robotic surgery presents less postoperative sexual dysfunction and earlier functional recovery, compared to laparoscopic surgery.
Better short-term results
The robotic surgery has allowed to shorten the hospital stay, reduce the rate of complications, improve the quality of the resection and decrease the rate of positive oncological margin, and at the same time improving the functional results allowing faster recovery of sexual and voiding function.
Better vascular evaluation and less anastomotic leak
Distal perfusion, that is, the amount of blood that reaches a tissue is one of the main technical factors that affect the rate of anastomotic leakage (intestinal suture failure). Thanks to the best vision provided by the da Vinci robot, surgeons can obtain intestinal segments with optimal blood perfusion conditions.
Meet your surgeon
Dr. Eloy Espin Basany
Dr. Espin is a renowned specialist in Digestive Surgery, minimally invasive surgery and da Vinci robotic surgery.
He has a PhD from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and is currently a full professor.
He performs his care activity at the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, being the clinical head of the colon and rectal surgery unit.
He is currently president of the Spanish Association of Coloproctology and actively participates in other societies such as the American Society of Colon and Rectum Surgeons, European Board of Coloproctology, Europacolon, Colomed, Surgery-European Crohn Colitis Organization and Crohn Colitis Ulcerosa Association.
He is one of the surgeons with more experience in robotic procedures in colorectal surgery being in this area a national and international reference.