Robotics in surgery: Current trends

Dear Editor, When a procedure is called “robotic,” it does not indicate that a robot is really doing the work. Instead, it refers to surgical procedures in which doctors use robots to guide their actions. One or more robotic arms may be used in robotic surgical systems, which doctors can operate remotely and accurately from a console nearby. A laparoscope is attached to one of the robot arms. Small surgical tools may be carried in the other arms by the surgeons. The surgeon is able to see the tumor in three dimensions thanks to a computer screen. Each robotic arm is controlled by a joystick similar to that used in video games, which replicates the movements of the wrist and…