Robotic General Surgery

Robotic surgery, or robot-assisted surgery, allows doctors to perform many types of complex procedures with more precision, flexibility and control than is possible with conventional techniques. Robotic surgery is usually associated with minimally invasive surgery — procedures performed through tiny incisions. The robot gives physicians technical advantages – improved ergonomics, better visualization and more-precise instrumentation. This allows them to perform the delicate and complicated surgery with agility and accuracy. Using the robot’s micro-instruments, our surgeons can meticulously navigate inside the abdomen, while still protecting the surrounding tissues and intestines. Benefits of this surgery include fewer complications, less trauma to the body, less pain and scarring, lower infection rates, shorter hospital stay, lower rate of gastrointestinal leaks, and lower risk of needing follow-up surgery.

Single Site Cholecystectomy

Single Site Cholecystectomy is a minimally invasive robotic procedure for gallbladder removal. During a single site cholecystectomy procedure, the surgeon sits at a console viewing 3-D, high-definition images while using controls below the display to move robotic arms with attached surgical instruments. The system translates the surgeon’s hand, wrist and finger movements into precise, real-time movements of surgical instruments inside the patient. The surgery can be performed in less than one hour with a typical hospital stay of two hours. Unlike traditional robotic surgeries that require three to four small incisions used as access ports for the robotic arms, the new technology allows for a single incision at the belly button where instruments are placed and the diseased organ is removed. Benefits of laparoscopic cholecystectomy can include minimal scarring, less pain, less bleeding, faster recovery, and shorter hospital stay.

Robotic Colon Resection

Bowel resection may be done to remove cancer or when the colon cannot function normally because of damage or disease. Bowel resection can be done for many diseases that affect the colon, such as colorectal cancer, diverticulitis or Chron’s disease.

During a bowel resection, the doctor removes the part of the colon or rectum where the problem is, if he is removing cancer from the colon, nearby lymph nodes are taken out and tested for cancer. Then healthy parts of the colon or rectum are sewn back together.  At times, the two parts of the colon or rectum cannot be reattached, so the surgeon performs a colostomy. This creates a stoma, an opening for the stool to pass through into a colostomy bag. Most of the time, the colostomy is temporary, until the colon or rectum heals. When the lower part of the rectum has been removed, the colostomy is permanent.

Robotic Gastric Reflux Surgery

Gastric Reflux Surgery, or Nissen fundoplication,  involves reinforcing the “valve” between the esophagus and the stomach by wrapping the upper portion of the stomach around the lowest portion of the esophagus.

This procedure may be recommended if a patient has serious GERD complications. For example, stomach acid can cause inflammation of the esophagus. This may lead to bleeding or ulcers. Scars from tissue damage can constrict the esophagus and make swallowing difficult. The success rate for this minimally invasive surgery is 90 to 95 percent for patients who have the typical symptoms of GERD, such as heartburn, regurgitation, or belching.

Robotic Hernia Surgery

• Ventral/Abdominal

A ventral hernia usually occurs in the abdominal wall where a previous surgical incision was made. In this area the abdominal muscles have weakened; this results in a bulge or a tear. In the same way that an inner tube pushes through a damaged tire, the inner lining of the abdomen pushes through the weakened area of the abdominal wall to form a balloon-like sac. This can allow a loop of intestines or other abdominal contents to push into the sac. If the abdominal contents get stuck within the sac, they can become trapped. This could lead to potentially serious problems that might require emergency surgery. Ventral hernias can also develop in the belly button (umbilicus) or any other area of the abdominal wall.

• Inguinal

An inguinal hernia occurs when soft tissue — usually part of the membrane lining the abdominal cavity (peritoneum) or part of the intestine — protrudes through a weak point in the abdominal muscles. The resulting bulge can be painful, especially when you cough, bend over or lift a heavy object. An inguinal hernia isn't necessarily dangerous by itself. It doesn't get better or go away on its own, however, and it can lead to life-threatening complications. For this reason, your doctor is likely to recommend surgery to fix an inguinal hernia that's painful or becoming larger.