For cancer patients who require surgery as part of their treatment, our doctors sometimes rely on robotic surgery to help remove hard-to-reach tumors, shorten surgery time, or reduce patient side effects compared to traditional surgery. These instruments first appeared in the late 1990s and have become increasingly common in operating rooms.

Robotic surgery does not mean that a robot is performing the surgery. Instead, it refers to an era when surgeons used robotic tools to guide the surgery. Robotic surgical systems use one or more robotic arms remotely and precisely controlled by the surgeon using a nearby console. The robotic arm has 3D view

Other components contain small surgical tools that can be inserted into incisions less than an inch long. The surgeon sits in front of a monitor that provides a 3D view of the tumor. Video game-like joysticks control each robotic arm, simulating wrist and hand movements, providing flexibility.

Like many other advance surgical techniques, robotic surgery may offer extra benefits to patients and surgeons. Here is what patients should know about this treatment option.