Refining the Process, Defining the Population
Medscape: Where do you see this field going? Is it a question of refining techniques for those procedures in which robotic assistance has already shown promise, or is it about identifying other procedures for which this type of technology can be applied?
Dr. Parsons: The answer is both. Thoughtful surgeons will apply any new technology to procedures for patients whom they think would benefit, and they will do so in a way that refines the approach to the treatment of the disease. I think that's what ACOG is doing right now; they are considering, in a very thoughtful way, whether robotic-assisted surgery should be applied to hysterectomy and, more specifically, in which situations it should be applied. What you don't want to do with a new surgical technology is take the mindset of "I have a hammer and the entire world is a nail." I think thoughtful surgeons will always strive to avoid that mindset and will always look to apply a new technology such as robotic-assisted surgery in a conscientious way.
Medscape General Surgery © 2013 WebMD, LLC
Cite this: Making the Most of Robotic-Assisted Surgery: An Interview With Dr. J. Kellogg Parsons - Medscape - Jul 15, 2013.
