Robotic Surgery
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 of your medical options, including the most effective, least invasive surgical treatments available.
Robotic surgery provides surgeons with an alternative to both traditional open surgery and conventional laparoscopy, putting a surgeon's hands at the controls of a robotic platform. Robotic surgery enables surgeons to perform even the most complex and delicate procedures through very small incisions with unmatched precision.
During surgery, the surgeon operates from a computer console, making dime-sized incisions and guiding the robotic arms, with attached instruments and a tiny camera to more closely view the operating area. This camera can magnify the body’s organs and other structures by 10 times – a larger field than most laparoscopic surgeries, which provide doctors with 4x magnification. This technique supports greater precision and efficiency, and ultimately, better results for the patient.
Our robotic surgeries include:
For the patient, benefits may include:
- Smaller incisions – provide faster healing and little to no scarring
- Shortened hospital stay, or even outpatient surgery
- Minimal blood loss – less chance a blood transfusion will be needed during surgery
- Less post-surgical pain – minimizes the length of time or need for pain medication
- Faster healing time – get patients back to a normal routine faster:
- Robotic prostatectomies (removal of the prostate gland) can reduce hospital stays and narcotics use.
- With robotic hysterectomies (removal of the uterus), the patient’s average hospital stay after surgery is generally reduced.
- Lower risk of infection
Robotic Surgery Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will my insurance cover my surgery if it is robot-assisted?
A: Once your insurance approves your surgery, it will be covered. The robot is simply a tool used by your surgeon to improve the outcome for your surgery.
Q: Can the surgeon feel anything inside the patient's chest or abdomen while performing robotic surgery?
A: Yes. The system relays force feedback sensations from the operative field back to the surgeon throughout the procedure. Force feedback provides a substitute for tactile sensation.
Q: Have robotic surgical systems been approved by the FDA?
A: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved robotic surgical systems for a wide range of procedures.
For more information, please call (512) 528-7000 or email.
Before you decide on surgery, discuss treatment options with your doctor. Understanding the risks and benefits of each treatment can help you make the best decision for your individual situation.
