Oman health: A new era in robotic surgery

The field of surgery is ever-changing and evolving. A major revolution has happened in the last 25 years as the focus has shifted to minimally invasive surgery and subsequently to robotic assisted surgery. Minimally-invasive surgical techniques have benefitted the patients in terms of lower morbidity and mortality through lesser violation of the body's natural barriers. The morbidity associated with open surgery like pain, discomfort, and delayed recovery was mainly due to the process of gaining access through bigger incisions. The same surgeries can now be performed through smaller cuts using minimally invasive techniques leading to lesser pain and faster recovery. In 1985 a robot, the PUMA 560, was used to place a needle for a brain biopsy using CT guidance.