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Robot Failure

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Complications in Robotic Urologic Surgery

Abstract

With advances in technology, new machines and devices have been developed, bringing great advances in modern medicine; the use of robotic technology should not only be based on its advantages but also on its shortcomings, and clinicians should be aware of the risks of untoward or unexpected events. Malfunction of the da Vinci robotic system is one of the shortcomings that might result in variable outcomes, depending on the severity. The potential for malfunctions leading to complications, aborted procedures, or open conversions is a concern due to the reliance on this system.

The intention of this text is to give a consolidated assessment of the safety and efficacy of robotic surgical systems. We have practiced a review of current medical literature indexed in PubMed to date (US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health).

The most common failures are divided into groups: system errors and video/image problems, falling broken pieces or burned in the patient’s body, instrument’s electrical arcs, sparks or burning, and unintended operation of instruments. During the development of the chapter, we will try to give some clues to avoid or overcome the previous mentioned adverse events.

Robot-assisted surgery has brought new potential technical problems for the surgeon, but most of these problems can be corrected or temporarily overwhelmed to complete the operation. Robotic surgery provides a safe way of minimally invasive treatment.

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Correspondence to Camilo Andrés Giedelman Cuevas MD .

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Cuevas, C.A.G., Rodriguez, R.A.C. (2018). Robot Failure. In: Sotelo, R., Arriaga, J., Aron, M. (eds) Complications in Robotic Urologic Surgery . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62277-4_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62277-4_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-62276-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-62277-4

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