Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) – Robotic Surgery vs Laparoscopic Surgery

Minimally invasive surgery is a surgical approach where small incisions are used to perform an operation that would result in less damage to the body than with conventional or traditional open surgery. MIS is associated with less pain; shorter length of hospital stay and fewer complications.

In the field of general surgery and colorectal surgery in Australia, we have observed a shift in paradigm from traditional open operations to laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopic surgery is now universally performed for hernia surgery, gallbladder surgery and bowel surgery. 

More recently, robotic platforms have emerged as a new technology and is considered in vogue for MIS surgeons. Previously, the da Vinci® surgical system was the only available platform on the market but in time, others have systems in various stages of development and commercialisation. Robotic assisted surgery is thought to be able to improve surgical performance by improving access to difficult spaces, enhanced optics, and improved ergonomics due to its superior dexterity. For the patient, it is thought that the surgery may be more precise, result in less pain, reduced complications, reduced length of stay and shorter recovery time.

Nevertheless, an expert MIS surgeon when performing surgery on the laparoscopic platform can achieve the same benefits without the increased cost of care associated with the robot and the increased length of operative time.

To date, the robotic platform in colorectal cancer surgery has proven to be equivalent and not superiority over laparoscopic surgery. Individual surgeons may report reduce rates of conversion to open operation but in the hands of an expert laparoscopic surgeon, Dr Terence Chua, the need to convert to open surgery is rare.

In the randomised trials to date, robot assisted surgery has not proven to improve cancer specific outcomes to laparoscopic surgery in the domains of resection margin, number of lymph node harvested, morbidity and recovery of bowel function.

Choose your surgeon based on their preference of MIS platform and the hospital experience. Dr Terence Chua is an experienced laparoscopic surgeon. He performs the majority of his operations using key-hole laparoscopic surgery. This includes bowel cancer resection, hernia repairs and gallbladder removals. The early recovery and reduced pain observed in his patients are a testament to his surgical finesse.

If you are looking for an expert key-hole, robotic or laparoscopic surgeon; be sure to contact Dr Terence Chua for an appointment.