Christophe Assenmacher, Head of Urology at Europe Hospitals (Cliniques de l’Europe) Ste-Elizabeth and Bella Vita Medical Center, and Trainer in Robotic Surgery at Intuitive, which makes the da Vinci surgical system, gives an informed perspective of expanded use of medical robots.
In an interview published Sept. 1 with Healthcare, Dr. Assenmacher explained: “Take the surgeon, while they spend years studying, their ability to function under pressure, make precise movements and many other skills can be augmented by a robot to significant impact.” Indeed, whereas some patients might hesitate to undergo surgery that is entirely automated, they could be more reassured by having a highly-trained and competent surgeon at the helm aided by a robot’s precision that they are receiving the best possible treatment throughout.
“From my own practice, I’ve seen that robot-assisted surgery typically halves the length of hospital stays, reduces bleeding and blood transfusions, shrinks the risk of infection, lessens the requirement for painkillers and ultimately improves the standard of care for our patients,” Assenmacher states. Furthermore, of particular relevance during epidemics of highly infectious disease such as COVID-19, robots can be deployed to perform essential tasks that would otherwise place people at risk, such as disinfecting rooms and dispensing medication. Assenmacher intimates that these capabilities could simply be beginning in automation: “We certainly expect to see an evolution of nanorobots in the bloodstream, digital pills and social companion robots.”
