A pioneering US medical centre has achieved a milestone by conducting a minimally invasive gastric sleeve procedure utilising a robot equipped with magnetic technology.
The fusion of the two elevates procedures, offering substantial benefits to both patients and surgeons.
The sleeve gastrectomy successfully removes a substantial part of a patient’s stomach.
Dr Matthew Kroh, leading the surgical endoscopy section and serving as the vice chair of innovation and technology at Cleveland Clinic’s Digestive Disease Institute, spearheaded the team.
Reflecting on the inaugural use of a surgical robot integrated with magnetic technology, he highlighted the utilisation of a robotic arm equipped with a surgical camera.
He emphasised the advantages of robotic technology in enabling minimally invasive surgery, resulting in reduced incisions, diminished pain, fewer scars and swifter recovery.
This innovation empowers surgeons to oversee the internal body structures and visualise tissues and organs during surgery.
Without the robot, the camera would typically be affixed to a slender rod, necessitating communication with an assistant for adjustments.
The FDA recently approved the technology.
In the initial case, Dr Kroh and lead surgeon Dr Andrew Strong utilised magnetic technology to gently displace the liver, enabling a clear view of the stomach during the laparoscopic procedure.
This eliminated the need for an additional incision, which would have been necessary to hold the liver in place using traditional laparoscopic instruments.
Dr Kroh emphasised that fewer incisions contribute to reduced pain and scarring for patients. Furthermore, studies suggest faster recovery rates when employing magnetic technology to stabilise organs during surgery instead of conventional instruments.
The research, published in Annals of Surgery Open, concluded that the robotic platform harnessing magnetic surgery capabilities significantly reduces incisions and grants the surgeon complete camera control.
Dr Kroh anticipates that robotic technologies will evolve to incorporate advanced imaging and navigation systems, enhancing the effectiveness and safety of surgical procedures.
The FDA’s approval of the magnetic-assisted robotic surgery platform in August 2023 extended its application to abdominal surgeries, encompassing gallbladder removal and bariatric procedures.
Since the first case at Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Kroh’s team has successfully conducted additional procedures using the robotic platform, including gastric bypass surgeries.
