In 2014, a study was published in Annals of Surgical Oncology by BH Lang et al. titled “A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Comparing Surgically-Related Complications between Robotic-Assisted Thyroidectomy and Conventional Open Thyroidectomy.” that aimed to determine the relative safety of robotic-assisted by conventional thyroidectomy.
For this study, researchers reviewed 11 previously-conducted studies and used statistics to normalize the data and make patients outcomes easy to compare. Studying 2,375 patients in all, 839 underwent robot-assisted surgery and 1,536 underwent traditional open thyroidectomy.
Doctors write that robotic-assisted surgery (RT) was “significantly associated with longer operating time, … hospital stay, … and higher temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury”. While many other surgical outcomes were comparable, this team wrote “Given some of the limitations with the literature and the potential added surgical risks and morbidity in RT, application of the robot in thyroid surgery should be carefully and thoroughly discussed before one decides on the procedure.”
Due to the fact that Da Vinci, the manufacturer of a number of popular surgical robot systems, has failed time and again to adequately warn doctors and patients alike of the increased risk for complications, longer operating time, and longer hospital stay, a number of surgical robots lawsuits have been filed.
If you or a loved one underwent surgery assisted by robot and suffered long hospital stay or operating time, or faced complications as a result, you too may be entitled to significant financial compensation. For a free, no-obligation case consultation, contact our team of surgical robot lawyers at the information provided below. We have the compassion, resources, and skills required to win the justice you deserve.
(855) 452 – 5529