Robotics in medicine is becoming more commonplace. With the help of consoles and 3D images, doctors improve effectiveness of surgical intervention and reduce losses due to human errors. Its application to reach the depths of the human body has been a matter of awe. .

Parts of the large intestine extending to the rectum (Colorectal area) pose serious access problem, particularly when treating cancers. Doctors at the Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, who have earlier used robotics to correct urological, gynaecological and cardiac problems, have developed a procedure to address colorectal problems, according to Dr B. Bhaskar Rao, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of KIMS.

Colon is part of our digestive system tagged towards its end. The body makes and stores stools. Disorders in this area are not easy to treat as doctors are constrained by strong pelvic bones. Though laparoscopic methods are in vogue, KIMS doctors used robotics to give this intervention another dimension.

“Robotics give us crucial third dimension that improve efficiency,” Dr Mallipudi B.V. Prasad, surgical gastroenterologist, told reporters on Saturday.

Armed with consoles, which almost look like gaming consoles, doctors can control robots to carry out surgeries. “It is absolutely safe as robots are virtually our slaves and will never violate our commands. Beauty is, they stop where they are asked to unlike in the traditional methods where endoscopic cameras can get clumsy and pierce internal tissues,” he said.

KIMS has so far carried out 40 surgeries in different streams using the Rs 10-crore “headless” robot with two metallic arms saddled with wires connected digital equipment.

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