FDA warns against robotic surgery for breast cancer, cervical cancer and other female cancers / Boing Boing

The US Food and Drug Administration issued a warning Thursday against the use of surgical robots for the treatment of breast cancer. The FDA asserts that the use of robotic medical devices in mastectomies, lumpectomies and associated surgeries because of "preliminary" evidence that it could be linked to lower long-term survival.
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The warning specifically addressed the use of devices for the treatment of women's cancer, particularly breast and cervical cancer.

Robotic surgery with devices such as the da Vinci Surgical robot is also increasingly used for cancers affecting men, such as prostate cancer.

The study does not seem to respond to this.

According to reports by Emily R. Siegel and Andrew W. Lehren on NBC News:

In an official FDA communication on safety, although "robotic surgery can help reduce pain, blood loss, scars, infections and recovery time," there is "preliminary evidence" that Use of devices for the treatment of cancer of women, especially breast and cervix cancer, may be associated with decreased long-term survival.

In a statement, Dr. Terri Cornelison, deputy director of women's health at the FDA's Center for Appliances and Radiology, said the FDA "warns patients and providers that the use of the drug is very important." robotic-assisted surgical devices for any cancer-related surgery has not been granted marketing authorization from the agency, and as a result, the benefits in terms of patient survival compared to traditional surgery have not been established. "

Previous reports on NBC: "The new robot surgeon works alone"

IMAGE: Da Vinci Surgical Robot, courtesy of davincisurgery.com

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