Research Assessment

Date: 10/17/14
Subject: Robotic Assisted Surgery
Source: Dickson, P. V., M.D., Alex, G. C., B.A., Grubbs, E. G., M.D., Jimenez, C., M.D., Lee, J.
E., M.D., & Perrier, N. D., M.D. (2013). Robotic-assisted retroperitoneoscopic
adrenalectomy: Making a good procedure even better. The American Surgeon,79(1), 84-9.
Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1328490019?accountid=10988
Assessment:
Recently, I have been looking into robotic surgery, and how it can assist surgeons with
precise operations that would normally be laparoscopic. The field of medicine is constantly
changing, so as a surgeon I will have to keep up to date with new procedures and technology
being used. This includes robotic surgery, which is being used more frequently to assist with
laparoscopic surgeries.
This article specifically focuses on robotic-assisted retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomies
(which is basically the removal of the adrenal glands through the membrane that lines abdominal
organs). It featured 28 surgeries assisted by robots, most of which went smoothly (only 3 resulted
in complications). This helped me to realize that robotic surgery has lots of advantages that are
not offered with laparoscopic surgery. For example, the tools are more flexible and allow for a
larger range of motion due to the presence of wrists, and the visuals are much clearer. Learning
this has encouraged me to explore some of the more modern surgical techniques being used
today. Robotic surgery is on the rise, and will soon be taken up by many across the nation.
The article included specific trials and details about each case that was monitored for
results. This helped to show me that if I want to be involved in research trials in the future, it will
take a long time, and every minor detail must be recorded. This was a group effort, so in order to
complete trials such as this one, I will have to find colleagues in similar fields and cooperate with
them. Research trials require many tries, and although the results dont always turn out how you
want them to, they are a benefit to the medical field nevertheless.
The procedure that most of the patients had to undergo was described in great detail in
the article. It involved making a 1.5 centimeter transverse incision just below the tip of the
twelfth rib. This has shown me that as a surgeon, I must learn to make extremely fine incisions
with not only my hands, but machines as well. I must be precise and know exactly how big to
make them, and be extremely careful.
Lastly, I must be familiar with all the anatomy and physiology of the human body to the
greatest extent. The article featured many references to various body parts and procedures, and I
ended up having to research most of them separately. After doing this, I know that I must start

learning the anatomy of the body and medical terminology much farther in depth than what I
learned in school.
The article was very informative overall, and gave a good representation of what robotic
surgery is, and a way that it is being used. It spoke of the advantages, such as more flexibility as
well as the disadvantages, such as increased costs.