Agra meet to discuss robot use in urology treatment

AGRA - Use of robots and computers for surgery on patients with urological problems will be discussed at an international conference on advances in urology, to be held in the city of the Taj Mahal beginning Feb 3.

The five-day conference will be attended by over 1,000 Indian and 200 foreign specialists in urology.

In the pre-congress workshop, specialists of the American Urological Association will highlight and demonstrate latest robotic assisted laproscopic techniques.

Organising secretary Madhu S. Agarwal told IANS: “By handling control of surgical instruments through robots and positioning surgeons at comfortable console with 3-D or high resolution display at up to 20 times magnification, surgery of vital organs can be accomplished with precision and accuracy, minimising damage to tissues or loss of blood.”

“Robotic wrists provide much more freedom of movement and articulated motion inside the abdominal cavity. Computer interfacing allows for remote control surgery, for precise manipulations by downscaling the surgeon’s motions,” she said.

Agarwal said the number of patients with urological problems was increasing each year. Five out of 10 have prostrate related problems, obstructing urine flow and needing intervention.

“Luckily, we have a whole range of technologies to address these problems now with laser prostatectomy, bipolar TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate), vaporisation of prostrate etc,” she said.

Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, because of the poor quality of water, are now known as stone-forming areas. The conference will discuss new treatment methods to deal with stone-related problems.