The Unit of Robotic Surgery from Hospital da Luz Arrábida offers now a unique service in the north region, for colorectal cancer and severe obesity. Integrated in its program of robotic surgery, initiated in 2016 with the acquisition of the only surgical robot in the north of the country, Hospital da Luz Arrábida has been widening the application of this innovating technology to the treatment of several diseases, this time colorectal cancer and severe obesity, under the responsibility of Mário Nora and Pedro Rodrigues, from the team of General Surgery. Robotic surgery is a minimally invasive surgery, where robotic devices are used controlled by the surgeon. Its technical features enhance the safety of the procedures and potentiate the advantages offered to patients by minimally invasive conventional surgery. Thus, the Unit of Robotic Surgery from Hospital da Luz Arrábida provides a unique service in that region of the country. In cases of rectal cancer, not only a good oncologic result is pursued, but also a good functional result. Robotic surgery favours, for instance, the preservation of the pelvic nerve plexus, reducing the risk of incontinence and erectile dysfunction (both frequent after rectal tumour surgery), as well as the need for permanent ostomy (in the case of tumours quite close to the anus). As for the cases of severe obesity, robotic surgery allows higher precision in gastric bypass sutures, potentiating its efficacy. Furthermore, the need to resort to extra-long instruments in super obese patients (manipulated by robot) does not reduce the control precision of the same, in contrast to what happens in conventional surgery. And the resistance of a very thick and heavy abdominal wall to the surgeon’s movements is irrelevant, when the instruments are manipulated via a surgical robot. More about robotic surgery in Hospital da Luz Arrábida here
