Robotic surgery seems to be all the rage. Years ago, the only
option for surgery was an “open” method – the patient has a
large incision through which the operation takes place. This was
recently replaced with laparoscopic surgery, where several tiny
incisions are made, and a small camera and instruments are
inserted through them to complete the operation. The latest
technology has brought us robotic surgery, similar to
laparoscopy but the surgical instruments are hooked up to a
machine. The surgeon sits in a corner of the operating room at
the console of the robot, and controls it remotely. One
assistant usually stays scrubbed in at the operating table,
while the main surgeon works on the patient from several feet
away. Robotic surgery is becoming increasingly popular, and in
fact counts for the majority of this country’s prostatectomies
and hysterectomies (removal of the prostate and uterus
respectively; usually for cancer). When compared to traditional
laparoscopic surgery, the robot allows for greater dex