Is Robotic Colon Resection the Same as Laparoscopic Colon Resection?

Dr. Craig Stephen Johnson M.D. is a top Colon and Rectal Surgeon in Tulsa, OK. With a passion for the field and an unwavering commitment to their specialty, Dr. Craig Stephen Johnson M.D. is an expert in changing the lives of their patients for the better. Through their designated cause and expertise in the field, Dr.... more
Robotic colon resection and laparoscopic colon resection are different modalities of minimally invasive colon resection surgery.
Laparoscopic colon resection was introduced in 1991. The rate of colon resection in the USA by this method has slowly increased over the past 25 years. Not all colon surgeries can be done laparoscopically. Obesity, rectal cancer, and previous abdominal surgery make this modality impossible and the patient must have traditional open surgery (a large mid-line incision). Hand assist laparoscopic surgery is considered open surgery. Only about 35% of all colon surgeries in the US are done laparoscopically.
Robotic colon surgery was introduced in the early 2000s; however, it did not become well-utilized until 2014 with the introduction of the Intuitive Surgical Xi robotic platform. An experienced robotic colorectal surgeon can do over 97% of their colon resection procedures robotically or minimally invasive. Completing complex, minimally invasive colon resection surgeries offers numerous benefits to patients. These advantages includes much less postoperative pain, decreased use of opioids, fewer complications, lower length of hospital stays, and a quicker return to work and normal function. Despite early reports of higher costs of robotic surgery, its adoption is rapidly rising. Recent cost analyses have actually shown significant cost savings to the system as a whole when robotic technology is used in colon surgery.
About Craig Stephen Johnson, M.D.
Dr. Craig Stephen Johnson M.D. is a top Colon and Rectal Surgeon in Tulsa, OK. With a passion for his field and an unwavering commitment to his specialty, Dr. Craig Stephen Johnson M.D. is an expert in changing the lives of his patients for the better. Through his designated cause and expertise in the field, Dr. Craig Stephen Johnson M.D. is a prime example of a true leader in healthcare. He embodies the values of communication, safety, and trust when dealing directly with patients. In Tulsa, OK, Dr. Craig Stephen Johnson M.D. is a true asset to their field and dedicated to the profession of medicine.