If you're facing surgery in the future, robotic surgery could offer you an alternative to conventional surgery. In general, patients undergoing robotic surgery, as opposed to traditional open surgery, may experience less pain, less scarring and shorter recovery times. Our surgeons—representing a variety of specialties—have been specially trained to perform a number of procedures and have gained experience over the last two years in a variety of robotic techniques.
Q. What types of procedures are currently being offered using robotics?
A. Many of our surgeons believe the ability to magnify the surgical area and precisely control the instrument offers greater accuracy. The following surgical procedures are now available at Abington:
- prostatectomy
- myomectomy – removal of uterine fibroids
- tubal ligation reversal
- hysterectomy
- salpingo-oophorectomy - removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries
- kidney reconstruction and removal
- gastric bypass-Roux-en-Y and Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch
- abdominal cerclage - surgical closure of the cervix in cases in which early dilation affects the ability of a pregnancy to go full-term
Q. What are the benefits of robotic surgery for a prostate cancer patient?
A. With robotic technology, the surgeon can perform with greater precision, thanks to features that improve his or her ability to see and move within the surgical area. The intricate technology is especially valuable in the preservation of nerve tissue in and around the prostate. The suturing method—which is made much more precise and easy by robotic surgery—aids in recovery, helping to eliminate bladder leakage.
Q. What are the benefits of the robotic myomectomy?
A. Laparoscopic myomectomy—the procedure to remove uterine fibroids—enables the surgeon to precisely remove the fibroid(s) and repair the uterus. Fibroids are common ailments that have been a leading cause of hysterectomies in fertile and healthy women. With fully articulated robotic instruments, high-resolution three-dimensional vision and a robotic interface, surgeons can perform a laparoscopic myomectomy with greater ease and excellent clinical outcomes.
Q. What are the benefits to you and other patients?
A. Patients experience less blood loss, less time in the hospital, better control over pain and less overall trauma to the body. In short, patients recover more quickly and get back to their daily routines sooner.
Q. What does the technology bring to the operating suite?
A. At Abington, surgeons are using the da Vinci® S Surgical System. The technology mimics traditional surgery but offers the surgeon a three-dimensional view, a tenfold magnification of the surgical area and a level of precision not possible in conventional surgery. For many patients, a quicker recovery time, less pain and discomfort, less scarring, less trauma, fewer complications, less blood loss, a decreased need for blood transfusions, reduced risk of infection, shorter hospital stays, and faster recoveries are the direct result.
