7 Key Benefits of Robotic Surgery

We live in a world today where there are countless medical advancements that can help us to live healthier, stronger and longer lives. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a condition that may require surgery, you owe it to yourself to learn about all your options, including some of the most non-invasive surgical treatments available using robotic surgery.

Through the use of robotic-assisted surgery, surgeons are now able to offer minimally invasive and more precise options for many complex surgical procedures—including inguinal (lower abdominal) and ventral (middle abdominal) hernia repair, cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal), hysterectomy (uterus removal) and prostatectomy (partial or complete removal of the prostate).

To operate using the robotic system, a surgeon makes tiny incisions in the body and inserts miniaturized instruments and a high-definition three-dimensional camera. Sometimes skin incisions are not required at all. Then, from a nearby console, the surgeon manipulates those instruments to perform the operation.

During a robotic-assisted procedure, the surgeon uses master controls to manipulate the instruments, and the instruments translate that surgeon’s movements into precise movements inside your body. The surgeon is in control the whole time. The surgical system simply responds to the direction he or she provides.

For most patients, robotic surgery offers numerous benefits, including:

• Reduced post-surgery pain
• Less blood loss
• Fewer and smaller scars
• Increased precision for more accurate joint replacements
• Faster recovery
• Shorter hospital stay
• Less risk of infection

Types of Robotic Surgery

Depending on the condition needed to be treated, there are different robotic surgery options. Not all hospitals offer all types, and some hospitals may have additional or other systems that use the same principles. The systems allow for superior visualization, enhanced dexterity and improved control.

Robotic Surgery at MetroWest Medical Center

MetroWest Medical Center offers the da Vinci Xi Surgical System, which delivers highly magnified, 3D high-definition views of the surgical area and instruments small enough to allow surgeons to operate through one or small incisions. This means faster healing and a quicker return to normal activities.

The general and minimally invasive surgeons at MetroWest Medical Center specialize in the repair of inguinal and ventral hernias, plus cholecystectomies, hysterectomies and prostatectomies.

If you feel that robotic surgery might be an appropriate treatment option for you, talk with your doctor to find out if you are a candidate for these innovative treatments.