Traditional or open surgery, also known as conventional surgery, involves a surgeon making a single large incision using a scalpel. The surgeon can have a clear view of the surgical area, and the operation is performed through this wide incision. With the advancement of technology, minimally invasive (robotic-laparoscopic) surgeries have become more common. Minimally invasive surgery requires only small incisions. Instruments used for the procedure are inserted through these incisions. There are two types of minimally invasive surgeries:

1) Classic Laparoscopic Surgery: Thin surgical instruments, including a camera, are inserted through small incisions and controlled directly by the surgeon. Laparoscopic surgery eliminates the need for a surgeon to put their hands directly into the body cavity. It is achieved by using instruments inserted through trocars, which are placed through keyhole-sized incisions made in the abdomen. Carbon dioxide gas is used to inflate the abdominal cavity to provide the surgeon with a working space. Visualization of internal organs is achieved with a camera inserted through one of the trocar sites.

2) Robotic or Robot-Assisted Surgery: In robotic surgery, surgical instruments, including a video camera, are placed using robotic arms controlled from a console. The surgeon at the console can see a highly magnified and clear 3D view of the surgical area. Advanced optical technology not only provides surgeons with a high-resolution, magnified view but also offers depth perception in three dimensions. Robotic surgery provides a better-magnified view and higher-resolution image of the surgical area compared to open surgery.

In urology, robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery is used to treat various conditions, including bladder, kidney, and prostate cancers, as well as non-cancerous conditions of these organs.

The most commonly performed robotic procedures in urology include:

1. - Prostatectomy (removal of the prostate)
2. - Partial and Radical Nephrectomy (removal of a part or all of the kidney)
3. - Pyelo/Ureteroplasty (removal and reconstruction of a part of the urinary tract)
4. - Cystectomy (removal of a part or all of the bladder)
5. - Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection or RPLND (removal of lymph nodes behind the abdomen)

How Does Robotic-Laparoscopic Surgery Compare to Open Surgery?

Robotic-laparoscopic surgery results in less pain and smaller surgical scars, leading to higher patient satisfaction. Postoperative recovery is significantly faster compared to open surgery, allowing patients to leave the hospital sooner and return to their normal daily lives more quickly. Conducting the surgery through small incisions with the assistance of a camera provides a much clearer and detailed view compared to open surgery. This leads to less trauma during the operation. Smaller incisions result in fewer postoperative infections. Additionally, due to the smaller incisions made during surgery, there is less blood loss compared to open surgery.