Robotic Surgery

What is robotic surgery?

Robotic surgery gives you the best of two worlds: your surgeon’s skill and personal attention, plus a state-of-the-art robotic system that delivers more precise surgical results.

Although it’s robotic surgery, you still have a full surgical team in the operating room, ensuring your procedure goes smoothly. In addition to your surgeon, your team includes assisting surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and surgical technicians.

What urology conditions are treated with robotic surgery?

The da Vinci Surgical System can be used to treat nearly every type of urologic condition, but the team at Pacific Northwest Urology Specialists most often use it to treat:

• Kidney cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Pelvic organ prolapse (sacrocolpopexy)
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (simple prostatectomy)

Your doctor can also use the da Vinci robotic system to remove a blockage in your urinary tract.

How does the da Vinci Surgical System work?

The da Vinci system has three key components. One part consists of the image processing equipment, which is positioned near your bed and is monitored by the surgical team.

The second piece of equipment contains multiple robotic arms that are narrow enough to go through very small incisions, making robotic surgery a minimally invasive procedure. One of the arms holds a camera and lighting, while the others hold the various surgical instruments.

The final component is the surgeon’s console. Your doctor sits at the console that holds a viewing monitor and controllers. Your surgery is performed as the doctor views the surgical site on the monitor and wears controllers with sensors that transmit hand and finger movements to the robotic arms.

What are the advantages of the da Vinci Surgical System?

The da Vinci system’s robotic arms are smaller than a surgeon’s hand. As a result, the roboticized system can perform surgery in small areas without damaging the surrounding tissues. The da Vinci system’s advanced technology also delivers benefits such as:

Excellent visualization

With its 3D, high-definition, and zoom capabilities, the da Vinci gives your surgeon a better view inside your body that can be achieved with other imaging systems.

EndoWrist™ instruments

The robotic arms are equipped with EndoWrist instruments that enable fine movement and a range of motion that exceeds human hands. The EndoWrists essentially turn your surgeon’s hand and finger movements into tiny surgical instruments inside your body.

If you have questions about robotic surgery, call Pacific Northwest Urology Specialists or book an appointment online today.