Robotic surgery often allows for smaller incisions and are typically less invasive than traditional surgery.
Research shows that surgical procedures conducted by a surgeon controlled robot can result in decreased scarring, reduced risk of infection, and shorter recovery times.
As such there is an increased demand for surgical procedures to be undertaken by surgeons trained in using robots. The demand comes from patients and also health systems wanting to reduce costs through shorter hospital stays.
In the United States more than a third of hospital have at least one surgical robot. Robots are used in various fields including urology, gynaecology and cardiothoracic. One of the most well-known surgical robots is the Da Vinci System which has four interactive robotic arms controlled by a surgeon at a console within the theatre. There are over 2,770 Da Vinci Surgical Systems in the US.
Earlier this year a head and neck surgeon in Melbourne, Victoria used a surgical robot to remove a tumour near the base of a skull of a 6 year old girl. It was the first time in Australia that robotic surgery was performed on a child.
Boost for Australian robotic surgeons
Up until a few years ago robotic machines in Australia were mainly only available in private hospitals, and until recently doctors wishing to specialise in robotic surgery had to go overseas in order to be trained. In April last year the Surgical & Robotics Training Institute at the Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital in Sydney was officially opened. It was the first institute of its kind in the southern hemisphere and was focused on training surgeons from Australia and internationally on using the Da Vinci surgical robot.
This week the Victoria Government announced $2m funding to develop the Australian Medical Robotics Academy which will focus on training surgeons to conduct robotic surgery for prostate cancer and other conditions. The academy will use virtual reality surgical simulators to build the skills of surgeon before they progress to live robotic surgery.
The Australian Medical Robotics Academy training centre is a joint venture with the Australian Prostate Centre and is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.