Da Vinci Surgical System® is often referred to as a robot, but is actually a precise computerized system controlled by the surgeon. This system integrates the best features of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) with a surgeon's skill.
Patients undergoing robotic-assisted surgery experience a shorter hospital stay, less pain, less risk of infection, less blood loss and transfusions, less scarring and faster recovery and return to normal daily activities.
Seated at the console of the da Vinci Surgical System, surgeons view a 3-D image of the patient's body and use a joystick-like instrument to manipulate small instruments inserted through the incisions. The robotic arms mimic the natural movements of the hand and fingers. A built-in computer enhances the surgeon's hand movements, making them more precise, which is especially important in delicate bypass and valve surgery and can reduce complications for prostate removal.
Novant Health offers the most advanced robotic-assisted techniques for a variety of surgeries, including:
- Bariatric
- Ear, nose and throat
- Gall Bladder
- Gynecological
- Prostate
Robotic-assisted surgery, particularly when used for prostate gland removal, results in less time on a urinary catheter, decreased blood loss and the opportunity for better continence and potency. In gynecological surgeries, robotic-assisted procedures generally result in less blood loss, less risk of infection and faster recovery.
We are among the first in the region to employ surgery using the da Vinci Surgical System robot, and we currently have four surgical robots at Novant Health. We are also classified as a Robotic Epicenter, which means we are among the top-performing centers in the country for robotic surgery. The national Robotic Epicenter program was started in 2009 by Intuitive Surgical, the maker of the da Vinci Surgical System.