Robotic surgery is one of the most advanced surgical techniques available, and many patients throughout Los Angeles County are finding that this minimally invasive surgery option is the best choice for them.
A minimally invasive surgical procedure is a surgery that can be performed through small, tiny incisions rather than one large open incision. These surgeries typically provide the patient with shorter recovery times as well as less risk of infection and other complications.
Many surgical operations that previously had to be performed using open techniques can now be done using minimally-invasive techniques, such as laparoscopy or robotic surgery.
Robotic surgery offers both the surgeon and the patient many advantages.
For the patient, robotic surgery offers an opportunity to have a traditionally open surgery performed utilizing minimally-invasive techniques. These surgical procedures are safer and offer quicker recovery times.
For the surgeon, robotic surgery provides the chance to use greater surgical precision and have more dexterity when operating on patients. The surgeon also has better access during the surgery and has improved visualization of the patient because of the 3-D imaging system.
The Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, has cleared the use of robotic surgery for a variety of procedures. Patients who are curious about FDA-cleared procedures can visit the FDA Clearance page.
The surgeon operates the robot at all times during the operation. At no point during any procedure will the robotic assistant make its own decisions or perform its own maneuvers.
The surgeon is in control of the robot the entire time, working from a 3-D imaging center within the operating room and utilizing the specialized da Vinci® Surgical System tools in order to complete the procedure.
Each insurance policy is different, so it’s important to check with your provider about whether or not da Vinci® Surgical System procedures would be covered for you.
No, virtual reality technology is not used with the da Vinci® Surgical System. The surgeon operates out of a console that uses 3-D imaging software in order to provide the surgeon with an actual image of the patient’s body during the operation. The surgeon never sees a virtual image or representation of the patient during any robotic assistance procedure.
The surgeon will feel force feedback sensations during the operation, which allow the surgeon to make the correct maneuvers while performing the operation. This is considered the equivalent of feeling tactile sensation during an open surgical procedure.
In addition to feeling the force feedback sensation, the surgeon will also have a greater field of view and a higher level of access, thanks to the 3-D imaging software that is used during these surgical procedures.
The da Vinci® Surgical System can now perform a variety of surgical procedures, including general surgery procedures, gynecologic procedures, urologic procedures, and thoracoscopic procedures. Surgeons are discovering new procedures each day that can benefit from this advanced system.
