We speak to Vincent Lefauconnier, co-founder of Neo Medical, about how technology is changing the role of surgeons.
In many areas of healthcare, the past few decades have brought about tremendous progress – and surgery is no exception. Patient outcomes – which used to vary wildly depending on where the surgery took place or on the team performing it – are now more consistent across the board.
This is, in part, thanks to minimally invasive techniques that mean operations are performed through smaller incisions. The result has been faster recovery, less pain and fewer complications for patients. Previously risky procedures – like open heart surgery, for instance – have now become safer and more predictable.
One such technique is the use of robotics. Although there has been speculation about robots replacing surgeons in the operating room, Vincent reminds us that robotics is just another tool to help surgeons in their daily work. ‘The first thing to understand,’ he tells us, ‘is that we’re not using actual robots today in the operating room. Why? Because robots make autonomous decisions. Although we talk of “robotic surgery”, what we’re using today are no more than sophisticated tools. Surgeons call the shots. So the terminology is misleading. Another misconception is that robotic surgery has revolutionised the field, but it is still used only in a small minority of spine surgeries across the world.’
In this sense, Vincent goes on to explain, robotic technology hasn’t changed drastically since the turn of the century. ‘The first time I saw robotic surgery used was 26 years ago in Grenoble by the highly renowned surgeon Alim-Louis Benabid. He was developing an approach to treat Parkinson’s disease – with a device that looked like an octopus fixed to the ceiling of the operating room. Over the years we’ve seen these tools become smaller and more precise, but they always rely on a surgeon to make decisions.’