May 28 2021
In April 2021, Dr. Subhashini Ayloo, section chief for Brown Surgical Associates' Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Division, performed Rhode Island's first robotic platform hepatectomy.
Requiring only four tiny incisions, this approach to complex procedures enables patients needing liver resection to avoid the lengthy and sometimes painful recovery process that is commonplace with more invasive traditional procedures, resulting in a shorter hospital stay and reducing the need for pain medication. "Faster recovery is vital for cancer patients who need to undergo chemotherapy or other cancer-fighting treatments after surgery," Dr. Ayloo said. "With this procedure, patients are able to return to cancer treatment much more rapidly than with a traditional open procedure for several reasons including elimination of wound complications, blood transfusions, and a smoother recovery process."
Because the instruments and arms of the system are small, the incisions required with robotic approaches are a fraction of the size of those in traditional open procedures. In addition, the surgeon has a fully magnified crystal clear 3-D view inside the patient's body through a camera. The instruments have a higher degree of precision, a key ingredient that allows surgeons to perform intricate maneuvers during complex operations such as liver resections. "As technology continues to evolve in surgery, our approach to addressing complex cancer operations will evolve. Our goal is to provide state-of-the-art surgeries to our patients with a singular focus - to improve their outcomes from operations," Dr. Ayloo said. "It's truly a satisfying feeling to be able to contribute with advancing skills and to have a real impact on patients during their critical phase of fighting cancer."