Frightening Number in Obesity Surgery
Stating that the number of surgeries due to this disease has increased with the increasing obesity in the world, Prof. Dr. Abdulkadir...
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Robotic Colon Cancer Surgery
The Importance of Robotic Surgery in the Treatment of Colon Cancers
The large intestine extends from the last part of the small intestine to the anus and consists of two parts, the colon of approximately 1.5 meters and the rectum of 15 cm. Cancers that occur in any part of the large intestine, cancer of the large intestine is called. Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the USA after prostate and lung cancer in men, and breast and lung cancer in women. In the USA, approximately 150 000 patients are diagnosed with colon cancer each year. When we look at the cancer data of our country, although there are geographical changes, colon cancer is among the top five most common cancers.
Risk factors
Age is an important risk factor, and 9 out of 10 large bowel cancers occur over the age of 50. Diet is another important risk factor, and excessive consumption of red meat (beef, sheep, liver), processed meats such as sausages, especially high temperature frying and grilling of these meats have adverse effects. On the other hand, consumption of vegetables, fruits and whole grains has positive effects on colon cancer. Obesity is an extremely important health problem and increases the risk of developing colon cancer. Except those; Alcohol and cigarette consumption, type 2 diabetes, family history of colon cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn's and Ulcerative colitis) and genetic syndromes (FAP and HNPCC) are important risk factors.
Patients' Complaints
Changes in bowel habits (diarrhea-constipation, feeling of bowel movement but inability), thinning of stool calibration and rectal bleeding are important complaints of patients. In addition, weight loss, weakness, loss of appetite, bloating are other important complaints of patients.
Diagnostic Methods
Diagnostic methods used in large bowel cancers are complete blood count, blood analysis in stool, tumor markers, ultrasonography, computed tomography, barium enema and colonoscopy. In addition, endorectal ultrasonography is important to determine the degree of local involvement in rectal cancers.
Robotic Surgery in Colon Cancer
Colon cancer is one of the important fields of oncological surgery. As it is known, cancer cells are cells that have uncontrolled growth, do not have a normal life span, and have capacities for invasion and metastasis. For this reason, the most important factor determining the course of the disease in colon cancer is surgical procedures performed in accordance with oncological principles and on time. Robots are devices that perform specific tasks preprogrammed by humans. The surgical robot is a medical device that is completely controlled by the surgeon and is used to increase the performance of the surgical procedure to be performed. The instruments used in robotic surgery are much smaller than the human hand, allowing the surgeon to easily reach areas that cannot be reached by hand during surgery. Robotic surgery, thanks to its advantages, provides convenience in the removal of the entire tumor in large intestine cancer, while operations are performed more safely due to less bleeding. In addition, because the incisions in the surgery are smaller than 1 cm, patients recover in a much shorter time and return to their social lives in a short time. Cancers that occur in the last 15 cm of the large intestine are called rectal cancers. The rectum is located in a narrow structure called the pelvis, and therefore, rectal cancer surgeries are more difficult than surgeries applied to cancers in other parts of the large intestine. The pelvis region where rectal cancer surgeries are performed is a region where robotic surgery offers more advantages. Especially in rectal cancers located close to the breech, sometimes the annulment of the rectum may be in question. Thanks to the advantages offered by robotic surgery, the connection of the large intestine to the anus can be achieved after the removal of the rectum.
Robotic Treatment of Rectal Cancer
The most common location of colon cancers is the rectum, which is the part close to the anus. Treatment of rectal cancers differs from colon cancers. One of the most important reasons for this is that the rectum is close to the rectum, and the second is that the rectum is located in a narrow anatomical region called the pelvis. The physician who will perform the surgical treatment of rectal cancer should have two important goals. The first of these is that it removes the rectum along with the surrounding lymph nodes that are likely to spread, that is, does not leave a tumor behind. The second goal is that after removing the rectum near the anus, the patient can perform defecation in normal ways by connecting the intestine to the anus, without taking his bowel out.
Robots are devices that perform specific tasks preprogrammed by humans. The surgical robot is a medical device that is completely controlled by the surgeon and is used to increase the performance of the surgical procedure to be performed. The first computer-aided surgical instruments were laparoscopic camera systems that could be controlled by head, foot or voice. However, the real progress in robotic surgery has been achieved thanks to wrist-controlled, ergonomic and vibration-reducing hand tools and camera systems that provide 3-dimensional images. The robot's double-headed camera technology allows it to more easily adapt to the differences in the sense of depth with its three-dimensional stereoscopic view. Thus, video-hand-eye coordination develops better. Today, robotic surgery is the cutting edge of technology that enables the development of laparoscopic surgery.
The camera system, which provides a reduction in the 3D and depth sense provided by robotic technology, and the high level of mobility of hand movements in different axes, undoubtedly bring robotic surgery one step forward in the treatment of rectal cancer. When we look at both oncological and functional results of robotic surgery on rectal cancers, we have extremely important scientific data. The pelvic region, where the rectum is located, has a serious nerve network both sexually and urologically. With the robotic method, the surgical plans are separated precisely and the above structures are not damaged during the surgical procedure, thus protecting the sexual and urological functions of the patients. As a result, thanks to the surgical treatment of rectal cancer with robotic method, it is possible for the patient to continue his normal life as before.
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