Robotic surgery isn’t science fiction. Hospitals like Salt Lake Regional Medical Center, Ogden Regional Medical Center, and Intermountain Medical Center routinely use robotic systems to perform procedures such as hysterectomies, laparoscopies, and prostate removal. Doctors believe there are many benefits to using surgical robots. The robotic system allows the doctor to make small, precise movements. Even complex surgery can be performed through a tiny opening. This means less blood loss, less scarring, and a faster recovery time. The patient can return to normal activities much sooner than with traditional surgery.
The da Vinci surgical robot system is the only robotic surgery system used in the United States. It was approved for use by the FDA in 2000. In 2012, it was used for over 400,000 surgeries. Many of these surgeries were hysterectomies.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, robotic surgery isn’t always the best option for patients and may not lower the risk of complications. However, hospitals pay over $2 million for a da Vinci system. They need to schedule surgeries in order to pay for their equipment. Because of this, women may be pressured to consider robotic surgery. Although most women do well after robotic surgery, serious complications can occur.
A California woman was hospitalized after her bowels fell out of her vagina following a robotic hysterectomy. A New York woman died after robotic surgery burned her artery and intestines. Other women have been left with perforated intestines or colons. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shows more than 500 reports of adverse events, including death, associated with the da Vinci robotic surgical system since January 1, 2012.
The FDA is currently investigating the robotic surgery system in an attempt to determine if injuries are caused by defects in the machine or by surgeons who receive inadequate training.
Surgeons who use the da Vinci robotic system undergo online training to learn the vocabulary needed to run the machines. The machine consists of a surgeon’s console and a cart that holds four robotic arms. One arm has a camera that gives the surgeon a stereoscopic view of the surgery. The other arms hold surgical instruments. The surgeon controls the arms using the console. The robot edits out any natural tremors, so the surgeon’s movements are translated into very small, very precise actions.
A surgeon will learn to operate the machine by practicing using the tools on inanimate objects. He will then perform a practice surgery on a cadaver or animal in order to receive his training certificate. However, there are no standards for how many procedures must be completed before a surgeon does a real operation. In addition, a surgeon is not required to practice every possible procedure.
Injuries may be a mixture of both inadequate training and mechanical defects. In May 2013, Intuitive Surgical recently advised doctors that a defective part on the EndoWrist Hot Shears Monopolar Curved Scissors could cause tissue burns. The FDA recently recalled 30 surgical robotic devices because the systems may not have been adequately tested before being sent to US hospitals.
Want can you do if you suffered serious injury as a result of robotic surgery? Contact a Salt Lake City defective medical device attorney. You may be eligible for compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other losses. To learn more about da Vinci surgical robot lawsuits in Utah, contact the James Esparza Law Firm at 800-745-4050.