ROBOTIC SURGERY

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Surgeons use the da Vinci Surgical System to perform complex surgical procedures through tiny incisions. This is referred to as minimally invasive surgery. Laparoscopy is another form of minimally invasive surgery and refers to the use of an older technology consisting of long rigid instruments to perform surgery. Minimally invasive surgery has been proven to significantly decrease post-operative pain, infections and enhance recovery.

A surgical team prepares the patient by making several dime-sized incisions in the body. The robotic platform is positioned over the patient and the team equips the robotic arms with tiny surgical instruments and a camera.

The surgeon sits nearby at the robotic console, watching a high definition, magnified, three-dimensional view inside the body. The surgeon uses hand and feet controls to direct the robotic arms. The system translates the surgeon’s maneuvers into real time – twisting, turning and rotating the micro-instruments as the operation demands. Though often called a robot, the technology cannot be programmed or move on its own.

Unlike laparoscopic surgery, which is typically limited to relatively simple procedures, robot-assisted surgery can be used for more complex operations. That’s because the robot offers additional enhancements for the surgeons that mean more precise removal of diseased tissue, and that means better outcomes for the patient. These enhancements include:

The high-definition stereo imaging camera captures depth perception unavailable to surgeons using standard laparoscopy. The camera also can magnify images to 10 times that which can be seen with the human eye.

The robotic arms, equipped with tiny instruments, can turn 360 degrees, rotating and bending as the surgeon dictates. This dexterity allows the instruments to maneuver within small cavities allowing the surgeon to perform precise surgical actions with precision.

    •    Less pain
    •    Less blood loss
    •    Smaller number of incisions
    •    A shorter hospital stay
    •    A faster return to normal daily activities