Dr Kalpana Nagpal performs 100 successful Robotic ENT, Head & Neck Surgeries

New Delhi: With the advancement in technology, medicine and healthcare sector too is observing a paradigm shift in treating patients with critical diseases. One such instance is the use of robots for performing critical surgeries with high precision, dexterity and maneuverability under the observance of surgeons. Dr Kalpana Nagpal, Senior Consultant & Robotic Surgeon, Department of ENT and Head & Neck surgery, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals explained the benefits of robotic surgery, as compared to traditional surgical methods. Dr Kalpana has successfully performed more than 100 robotic ENT surgeries in the past one year at Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi.

Explaining about Robotic ENT surgery, Dr Kalpana Nagpal said, “Robots are the future of medicine and the future of surgeries. They have helped improve surgical outcomes to a great extent. They have been assisting surgeons and have helped in performing complex procedures with ease and safety. Conventional head & neck procedures require a lot of surgical dissection with large incisions which can be avoided in Robotic surgeries. Robotic surgeries are not performed by the robot but commands are given by the surgeons and robotic arms with seven degrees of freedom follow the command. Human wrists, elbows and shoulders only have a limited degree of movement unlike robotic arms which have 360 degree movement. They can reach inaccessible areas with ease as they are snake like and flexible. Movements by the robotic arms are miniature by 5 mm instruments unlike gross hand movements of the surgeons making complex surgical procedures successful with high precision.”

“Surgery with a medical robot is a great alternative to conventional procedures for patients and can replace both open and laparoscopic procedures in many cases. Transoral (through the mouth) robotic surgery is minimally invasive, and greatly reduces the recovery time and its side effects,” added Dr Nagpal.

Talking about the advantages of Robotic ENT surgery, Dr Kalpana further added, “There are various benefits to surgeons as well as the patients undergoing a robotic surgery. The surgery proves to be a boon for surgeons as this provides them with a 3D binocular vision with 10X magnification; fingers tremors gets eliminated through software filters, the procedure does not require any awkward bending of the back or shoulder causing aches and pains. Other than this the budding medical professionals can learn and watch the complete procedure on a 2D screen which was difficult to observe in conventional procedures. The surgeons get excellent hand – eye coordination and there is enhanced depth.”

Robotic ENT surgery ensures faster recovery, minimal or no scars, very little or no blood loss and is cost effective “For patients, robotic surgery helps in faster recovery with minimal or no blood loss hence no requirement for blood transfusion, minimal pain, no or hidden scars providing great cosmesis, short hospital stay due to quicker recovery, cost effective and no injury to major neural or vascular structures. Excellent cosmesis is an added advantage due to which more and more patients are opting for robotic surgeries these days,” Dr Kalpana further explained.

There are several types of head and neck surgical procedures that can be performed successfully through robotic-assisted surgery.