At Surgical Associates, our surgeons perform laparoscopic surgery very routinely to treat all types of surgical diseases in the abdomen. Some of our surgeons may occasionally recommend da Vinci® Robotic Surgery in the treatment of certain conditions. Robotic surgery is similar to laparoscopic surgery.
During your surgery your surgeon will sit at a computer station and direct the movements of the da Vinci® robot. Small surgical tools are attached to the robots arms. Your surgeon makes small cuts to insert the instruments into your body. Then, a thin tube with a camera attached to the end of it (endoscope) allows the surgeon to view enlarged 3-D images of your body as the surgery is taking place. The robot matches the doctor’s hand movements to perform the procedure using the tiny instruments.
The System cannot be programmed and it cannot make decisions on its own. The da Vinci® System requires that every surgical maneuver be performed with direct input from your surgeon.
Robotic surgery can take longer to perform. This is due to the amount of time needed to set up the robot.
Robotic surgery may be used for a number of different procedures, including:
- Gallbladder removal
- Hernia repairs
- Colectomy
- Cutting away cancer tissue from sensitive parts of the body such as blood vessels, nerves, or important body organs
Learn more about the da Vinci® robot at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnXCkpJq3iQ