daVinci Robotic Surgery
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a condition that may require surgery, you owe it to yourself to learn about all of your medical options. You will want to know the most effective and least invasive surgical treatments available. The da Vinci® Surgical System provides surgeons with an alternative to both traditional open surgery and conventional laparoscopy, by putting a surgeon’s hands at the controls of a state-of-the-art robotic platform.
In The News
Robotic Surgery's Benefits for Patients
- Shorter hospital stay
- Less pain after the surgery
- Less scarring after surgery
- Lower risk of infection
- Less blood loss and fewer transfusions
- Faster recovery and a faster return to normal daily living activities
How Does Robotic-Assisted Surgery Work?
The surgeon works at the computer console.
There is an assistant surgeon, anesthesiologist, and an O.R. nurse by the patient’s bed, along with the robotic equipment.
The doctor makes tiny incisions (the size of a dime) and guides the robotic arms with attached instruments and a tiny camera through the incisions.
At the computer console, the surgeon looks through a camera with that can magnify the organs and other structures inside the body by 10x. Most laparoscopic surgeries provide doctors with 4x magnification.
The surgeon can change the surgical view instantly, using foot pedals to zoom in and out.
The movement of the surgeon’s fingers is transmitted (via the computer console) to the instrument tips on the other robotic arms. These instruments mimic the movements of the surgeon’s hands and wrists. They have the same 360-degree range of motion that the surgeon has. This gives the doctor an ambidextrous capability and terrific surgical precision.
The surgeon is always in control, sitting at the console a few feet from the patient.
The surgeon performs surgery with unmatched precision, operating the instruments in real time.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Will my insurance cover my surgery if it is robot assisted?
A: Once your insurance approves your surgery, it will be covered if your surgeon uses the da Vinci robot as well. The robot is simply a tool used by your surgeon to improve the outcome for your surgery.
Q: Why is the robot called the da Vinci® Surgical System?
A: The name “da Vinci” was chosen because Leonardo da Vinci invented the first robot. He was well known for using unparalleled anatomical accuracy and three-dimensional details to bring his masterpieces to life. The da Vinci Surgical System provides surgeons with enhanced detail and simulates an open surgical environment while allowing operation through tiny incisions.
Q: Can the surgeon feel anything inside the patient's chest or abdomen while using the da Vinci Surgical System?
A: Yes. The system relays force feedback sensations from the operative field back to the surgeon throughout the procedure. Force feedback provides a substitute for tactile sensation.
Q: Has the da Vinci Surgical System been cleared by the FDA?
A: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the da Vinci Surgical System for a wide range of procedures. Please see the FDA Clearance page for specific clearances and representative uses.
For More Information
For more information on our Robotic Surgical Services Program call 979-693-2762.