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New, easy-to-use robots
Surgical robots are becoming more mainstream in several spe-
cialties, though their use in abdominal surgery has traditionally
been slow. But new updates as well as the promise of more robots
entering the market could open up the technology to new users in
abdominal surgery.
"Until recently, most surgeons thought that there weren't any
demonstrated advantages for the robot's use in abdominal surgery,"
says Dr. Jones. "But as more surgeons adopt the technology, they are
seeing some advantages, like that they don't need their surgical assis-
tants and that they have improved case efficiency."
Dr. Pryor says robots are particularly useful in abdominal wall
reconstruction, "which is a very hard procedure to do laparoscopical-
ly, but with the robot's articulated instruments you can get much bet-
ter angles."
With new manufacturers poised to enter the market in the coming
years, the hope is that increased competition will drive down prices
and make the robots more accessible. Still, Dr. Jones says that general
surgeons aren't clear where robotic procedures have the biggest
advantages over open or laparoscopic techniques.
"We haven't worked out the where and for whom it makes the
biggest impact," he says. "But it isn't too far of a stretch to say that its
highly motorized movements, better visualization and articulated
instruments could benefit some procedures."
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