Introduction
One of the most common questions patients ask me is:
“Doctor, will my surgery be open, laparoscopic, or robotic?”
The truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The type of surgery best suited for you depends not only on your medical condition but also on the experience and expertise of your surgeon. Each surgical approach—open, laparoscopic, or robotic—has its own strengths. The key factor is not just the technology but the skill of the doctor using it.
As a practicing urology specialist in Bhubaneswar, I often see patients worrying more about the method of surgery than about choosing the right doctor. The key is timely treatment by a skilled surgeon.
Understanding the Surgical Options
1. Open Surgery
This is the traditional method, where a larger incision is made to directly access the affected organ. Despite being an older technique, open surgery is still widely practiced and highly effective, especially when performed by experienced surgeons.
2. Laparoscopic Surgery
This is a minimally invasive approach that avoids large incisions. Small instruments and a camera are inserted through tiny cuts, allowing the surgeon to operate with less blood loss, faster recovery, and smaller scars.
3. Robotic Surgery
Robotic surgery is an advanced version of laparoscopy. Using robotic arms controlled by the surgeon, it offers greater precision, finer movements, and better access to hard-to-reach areas. However, it’s important to remember: the robot does not work on its own. It is only a tool in the surgeon’s hands.
Does Robotic Surgery Always Mean Better Results?
A common misconception among patients is that robotic surgery is always superior. In reality, outcomes depend more on the surgeon than the technology.
For example, Dr. Patrick Walsh, a world-renowned urologist and pioneer of radical prostatectomy, performed only open surgeries well into his senior years. His results often surpassed those of robotic surgeries, showing clearly that skill matters more than the tool.
Choosing Between the Three Approaches
If your surgeon is highly skilled in laparoscopic techniques, most procedures that can be done robotically can also be done laparoscopically.
If you have access to a skilled open surgeon, you can still achieve excellent cancer outcomes, even without robotic assistance.
The priority in cancer surgery is not the method but the completeness of cancer removal and long-term survival.
The Risk of Delaying Treatment
Unfortunately, many patients lose valuable time by debating whether to go for robotic or laparoscopic surgery. This delay can be harmful. The most important step is timely treatment by a capable doctor, not waiting for a specific type of technology.
Final Thoughts by Dr. Rahul Jena
Technology will continue to evolve. The tools surgeons used 50 years ago are not the same today, and what we use now will change in the future. But diseases like kidney cancer or prostate cancer remain the same, and their treatment relies on the surgeon’s expertise.
So instead of asking, “Which method is best?”, ask, “Which doctor can treat me best?”
Because at the end of the day, it is not open, laparoscopic, or robotic surgery that saves lives—it is the knowledge, experience, and skill of your surgeon.