Robotic technology assists doctors in performing more precise, minimally invasive operations with faster recovery times.
The operating rooms at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Hamilton feature a unique addition to the surgical team: a robot. “Our surgeons perform a growing number of procedures using this important tool,” says Matthew Benjamin, Assistant Vice President, Surgical & Clinical Services. Robotic-assisted surgery combines a physician’s expertise with advanced technology.
This technique improves precision and results in a minimally invasive surgery. A variety of surgeries are being performed using the da Vinci Surgical System. It’s designed to improve outcomes in patients having cancer treatment or surgery on organs such as the stomach, gallbladder and kidneys. When using the robot, a surgeon sits at a console and uses controls to manipulate surgical instrumentsThe robot has a wide range of motion and can maneuver in tight areas, allowing a physician to perform delicate surgeries in hard-to-reach places. Robotic surgery involves small incisions and the use of a laparoscope—a thin tube with a tiny camera and light at the end—to view a patient’s anatomy. The images are sent to a computer screen, which magnifies a patient’s organs, improving the surgeon’s field of vision.
Helping a wide range of patients
Introduced to RWJUH Hamilton about 10 years ago, the da Vinci Surgical System is currently used to perform urologic, gynecologic, general and bariatric (weight loss) surgeries. Of course, not every patient is a candidate for robotic-assisted surgery. Physicians determine candidacy based on the patient’s health and the severity of his or her condition. In some cases, the use of other technology is more appropriate. Here’s how patients can benefit rom procedures performed with robotic-assisted surgery.
General surgery and bariatrics
Several general and bariatric (weight loss) procedures can now be performed using the da Vinci robot. The system’s new, procedure-specific instruments allow our surgeons to use the robot to perform surgeries such as gallbladder removal, hernia repairs and bariatric gastric sleeve procedures. As with gynecologic procedures, robotic-assisted general surgeries involve less pain, shorter hospital stays and quicker recoveries. Hernia repairs can be done through the belly button.
Urology
“Urology is one of the specialties the system was developed for,” says Benjamin. “The structures in this part of the body can be difficult for a surgeon to access with his or her hands.” Robotic-assisted urologic surgeries, such as removal of the prostate gland or a kidney, involve less trauma, less blood loss and a faster recovery than open surgery.
Gynecology
Robotic-assisted gynecologic procedures, such as hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) and myomectomy (removal of uterine fibroids), have several advantages over open surgery and traditional laparoscopic (minimally invasive) surgery. “There is less manipulation of the organs, which results in less post-operative pain and discomfort,” says Benjamin. In addition, patients benefit from a quicker recovery and a shorter hospital stay.
In addition, some gynecologic procedures, such as hysterectomy and myomectomy, can be done using single-incision robotic-assisted surgery. The robot’s arm is inserted into a small incision in the belly button, and there’s no visible scarring.