Robotic Surgery

About

Several types of robotic surgery may be used to treat many conditions. Some people may not be candidates for robotic surgery. Your doctor will discuss with you whether you're a candidate for the procedure.

In robotic surgery, a type of minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopic surgery), surgeons make a few short incisions instead of the single long incision made in open surgery. Surgeons conduct robotic surgery using a robotic system, which includes a camera arm and several interactive mechanical arms, with joints that work like a human's wrist.

Your surgeon guides the procedure from a remote console a few feet from the surgical table. Your surgeon views the surgical area in a 3-D magnified view on a monitor, which offers greater depth perception and detailed views than does open surgery.

From the remote console, your surgeon uses two hand-and-finger devices to precisely direct the mechanical arms at the operating table. Your surgeon leads a trained surgical team during the surgery.

Surgeons have more flexibility, control and maneuverability using the surgical instruments in robotic surgery than in traditional minimally invasive surgery. Using robotic surgery, surgeons can perform delicate and complex procedures that may have been difficult or impossible with other techniques.

In robotic surgery, you often may have less blood loss and reduced trauma, a shorter hospital stay and a quicker recovery compared with open surgery. You may return to normal activities more quickly than after open surgery. Robotic surgery may involve some risks, similar to open surgery, including risk of infection and other complications.