When you think of traditional surgery, what comes to mind? You might think of pain, blood loss, a lengthy recovery, and time off from work or family. The da Vinci Robotic Surgical System may be changing all that. Your surgical options have broadened with these more cost effective and less invasive procedures.
The da Vinci Surgical System, aptly named for Leonardo da Vinci who invented the first robot in 1495, provides surgeons with an alternative to both traditional open surgery and conventional laparoscopy.
Purchased by BSA Hospital in the Fall of 2007, the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System has been used in 77 surgeries to date. Basically a laparoscopic surgical technique, the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System, uses standard laparoscopic incisions and ports. The robot is then “docked” to the ports and the instruments inserted into the abdomen. The robot allows the surgeon to operate from a seated position at a console, with his eyes and hands positioned in line with the instruments. To move the instruments or to reposition the camera, the surgeon simply manipulates the finger grips and the instruments and camera move smoothly as if it were an extension of the surgeon’s hand. The instruments have ‘wrists’ which can bend while inside the patient and allow for difficult areas to be reached. If the surgeon’s head is removed from the console, the instruments freeze, leaving no room for error or accident with the instruments inside the patient.
The da Vinci system is changing the face of many surgical procedures performed today that use standard laparoscopic techniques. Hysterectomies, myomectomies, and prostatectomies are among some of the most popular surgeries currently being performed with the da Vinci System.
Surgeons wishing to use the technology receive intensive training including observation, hands on training and then mentoring or “proctoring” of the first several surgeries performed with the new system. There are a growing number of Amarillo physicians seeking this training with seven currently credentialed through BSA.
“The benefits to the patient are many,” da Vinci surgeon Dr. Greg May says. “This surgery means less pain and shorter recovery times, which in turn means shorter hospital stays and less impact on the social and economic lives of the patients.” The da Vinci System creates the opportunity for a much quicker return to normal activities, and can cut recovery times in half or more from traditional surgeries. Dr. May has been performing hysterectomies with this system for over five months.
Dr. David Wilhelm has been performing prostatectomies with the da Vinci System for six months and says the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System has made difficult, technical surgeries, like prostatectomies, easier to perform. “We can now do major reconstructive surgery for prostate cancer laparoscopically. It’s an amazing piece of technology.” Dr. Wilhelm has performed 22 prostatectomies since the Fall of 2007 with good results. “New advancements are sure to follow,” Dr. Wilhelm says, “Robotic surgeries will soon become more routine.”
By enhancing surgical capabilities, the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System is helping to improve patient experiences and clinical outcomes and is redefining standards of care.
