Robotic Procedures

Surgeons at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center use robotic surgery for general surgery and colorectal, gynecologic and urology procedures. Potential benefits of minimally invasive robotic surgery compared to open surgery may include a shorter hospital stay, less post-operative pain, a quicker recovery, less risk of infection and less scarring.

Robotic General Surgery

If your doctor recommends general surgery, whether to remove your gallbladder or spleen, or repair a hernia, you may be a candidate for minimally invasive surgery with the da Vinci® Surgical System at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.

While surgery is generally the most effective treatment option for many conditions, traditional open surgery with large incisions often results in pain, a long recovery time and risk of infection.

Fortunately, less invasive options are available, the most common being laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopic surgery is performed through small incisions — often smaller than a quarter of an inch — that are used to insert long-shafted instruments. Though laparoscopic surgery is effective for many routine procedures, it has certain limitations when more complex surgery is involved.

Now, with the latest evolution in surgical technology, patients at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center have a safe and effective alternative to traditional open and laparoscopic surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System.

The da Vinci System enables surgeons to operate through incisions less than an inch long with dramatically enhanced vision, precision and control.

Robotic Colorectal Surgery

During a robotic colectomy, surgeons remove cancerous portions of the colon and rectum, as well as benign tumors and polyps. A robot-assisted approach provides surgeons with the tools to more easily connect the two ends of the colon after the cancer has been removed. The procedure can be completed with a few tiny incisions, rather than the one long incision used in traditional open colon surgery.

Robotic surgery enables surgeons to perform complex rectal cancer surgery, which had been extremely challenging, in a minimally invasive manner. The robot provides improved visualization of the surgical site through 3D magnification, enhanced dexterity for manipulation and dissection of tissue, and greater precision.

Robotic Gynecologic Surgery

For some women, robotic gynecologic surgery may be a good alternative to open surgery or standard minimally invasive procedures. Open gynecologic surgery, in which a large incision is made in the abdomen so a surgeon can access the uterus and surrounding anatomy, has been the standard approach to gynecologic procedures for years.

However, open surgery can cause significant pain, physical trauma and a long recovery process. The potential advantages of minimally invasive and robot-assisted hysterectomy and other gynecologic procedures over conventional open surgery include smaller incisions that may result in less post-operative pain, reduced blood loss and less need for blood transfusions and a potentially faster recovery and return to normal activities.

Robotic Urology Surgery

The da Vinci Surgical System is being used by an increasing number of surgeons worldwide for urologic procedures. It is a minimally invasive approach using the latest in surgical and robotics technologies and is ideal for delicate urologic surgery. This includes prostatectomy, where the target site is not only tightly confined but also surrounded by nerves affecting urinary control and sexual function. Using the da Vinci System, your surgeon has a better tool to spare those delicate and critical surrounding nerves. This may improve your recovery experience and clinical outcomes with possible benefits, such as:

• Significantly less pain
• Less blood loss
• Fewer complications
• Less scarring
• A shorter hospital stay
• And a faster return to normal daily activities

Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any surgical procedure. Talk with your doctor about these risks to find out if robotic surgery and minimally invasive surgery are right for you.