Top Things You Need to Know About Robotic Surgery

While you may have heard of robotic-assisted surgery, do you know what it is and why it’s being done more often? Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence, one of the nation’s leading surgery centers, has expanded its capabilities with a third da Vinci 5 robot, the latest technology in the field. This addition brings the number at Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) to 18 surgical robots across 15 specialties network-wide. 

Why robots? The surgical robot is a tool used by surgeons to increase surgical precision, which leads to smaller incisions, less blood loss, less pain and better outcomes for patients. Fewer complications mean shorter hospital stays and a return to regular activities faster.

Clinicians do the surgeries, not the robots. Robotic-assisted surgery is always performed by specially trained, certified surgeons. Sitting at a console, the surgeon controls the robotic arms, which hold tiny surgical instruments.

It delivers a view that’s 10 times better than the human eye. A high-definition camera and 3D views of the surgical area on a big screen let surgeons see the problem area in detail. They can see around corners and operate in tight spaces.

Instruments are tiny, so incisions are small. Robotic-assisted surgery is called minimally invasive because procedures can be done with fewer, small incisions. This means less tissue injury with less pain, less blood loss and a faster recovery.

Robotic-assisted surgery can be done for many conditions. These include many types of cancer, obesity and hernias. The most common robotic procedures at LVHN are in gynecology, urology and colorectal surgery.

Almost any adult can have robotic-assisted surgery. Adults age 18 and over are potential candidates for a robotic procedure. Talk to your clinician to see if it’s right for you.