Minimally Invasive Surgery

Laparoscopic surgery, also known as minimally invasive surgery (MIS), band-aid surgery or keyhole surgery is a modern surgical technique in which operations in the abdomen are performed through small incisions (usually 0.5 - 1.5 cm) as compared to larger incisions needed in traditional surgical procedures. Each incision is called a “port.” At each port a tubular instrument known as a trochar is inserted. Specialized instruments and a medical camera known as a laparoscope are passed through the trochars during the procedure. With minimally invasive surgery, there are a number of advantages to the patient versus a traditional open procedure including:

  • Reduced hemorrhaging, which reduces the chance of needing a blood transfusion.
  • Smaller incision reduces pain and shortens recovery time, resulting in less post-operative scarring.
  • Less pain, leading to fewer pain medications needed.
  • Reduced hospital stay / quicker return to everyday life.

Robotic surgery is the use of robots in performing surgery. Three major advances aided by surgical robots have been remote surgery, minimally invasive surgery and unmanned surgery. Some major advantages of robotic surgery are precision, miniaturization, smaller incisions, decreased blood loss, less pain and quicker healing time. Further advantages are articulation beyond normal manipulation and three-dimensional magnification.

The da Vinci Surgical System comprises three components: a surgeon's console, a patient-side robotic cart with 4 arms manipulated by the surgeon (one to control the camera and three to manipulate instruments), and a high-definition 3D vision system. Articulating surgical instruments are mounted on the robotic arms which are introduced into the body through cannulas. The surgeon's hand movements are scaled and filtered to eliminate hand tremor then translated into micro-movements of the proprietary instruments. The camera used in the system provides a true stereoscopic picture transmitted to a surgeon's console. The da Vinci System is FDA cleared for a variety of surgical procedures including surgery for prostate cancer, hysterectomy and mitral valve repair, and is used in more than 800 hospitals in the United States and Europe. Robotic surgery is an ideal option for many urological conditions including prostatectomy, where the target site is not only tightly confined but also surrounded by nerves affecting urinary control and sexual function. Using da Vinci, your surgeon has a better tool to spare those delicate and critical surrounding nerves. This may improve your recovery experience and clinical outcomes with such benefits as:

  • Significantly less pain
  • Less blood loss
  • Reduced scarring
  • Minimized complications
  • Shorter hospital stays
  • Quicker return to daily activities