da Vinci Robotic Surgery
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da Vinci Robotic Surgery at Saint Agnes Medical Center
Greater precision ... more control ... better vision ... just a few of the many reasons that a growing number of surgeons at Saint Agnes Medical Center are treating complex conditions ranging from cancer to uterine prolapse, fibroids and even heart disease using the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System. This minimally invasive approach requires only a few tiny incisions, so patients get back to life faster without the usual recovery following traditional surgery.
Patient benefits of da Vinci surgery
- Less trauma, which reduces postoperative pain
- Less blood loss
- Lower risk for infection
- Faster recovery times
- Reduced length of hospital stays
- Enhanced cosmetic results
Saint Agnes Medical Center introduced robotic surgery to the Central Valley in 2001 and, soon after, made headlines as the first hospital on the West Coast to use the robot during a minimally invasive coronary bypass.
How robotic surgery works
The da Vinci Surgical System provides surgeons with the precision, dexterity and control of traditional open surgery, while only requiring 1-2 cm incisions.
Like a conductor leading a symphony, the surgeon orchestrates every move the robot makes from a console a few feet away from the surgical table. The robotic surgical system cannot be programmed, nor can it make decisions on its own.
It operates like an extension of the surgeon's own highly skilled hands, translating hand and wrist movements to microinstruments inserted into the patient's body. These microinstruments, better known as EndoWrists, reproduce the range of motion and dexterity of the surgeon's hand, but with even higher precision, greater flexibility, and the ability to rotate instruments more than 360 degrees.
Looking through a video monitoring system like a pair of binoculars the surgeon gets a 3-D, high-definition view inside the patient's body, with magnification up to 10 times the vision of the naked eye.
What types of surgery can be performed robotically?
Saint Agnes is using its robotic surgical system in procedures that treat a range of conditions, including:
- Bladder Cancer
- Colorectal Cancer
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Endometriosis
- Gynecologic Cancer
- Heavy Uterine Bleeding
More information
For more information about robotic surgery, or to find out if your doctor is among the growing number of surgeons worldwide offering this innovative technology, call 1-800-ST-AGNES (782-4637) or visit Saint Agnes online at www.samc.com.
"The day after my surgery, I was up and dressed and at a basketball game. Three weeks later, I went skiing."
Lynnette
Saint Agnes Robotic Surgery Patient
"I've had 10 surgeries in the last three years, and this has been the best experience as far as my recovery. Within a week, I could do just about anything & like nothing ever happened. It's like I'm a brand new guy."
Paul
Saint Agnes Robotic Surgery Patient