Robotic Institute of South Florida
Frequently Asked Questions About Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery
Q. What is minimally invasive robotic surgery?
A. Minimally invasive robotic surgery is an operation that doctors perform using special tools that are inserted into their patients’ bodies through small incisions. This means that large incisions of traditional surgery – “being opened up” and having to live with large scars afterwards — are things of the past.
To perform this minimally invasive surgery, the Robotic Institute of South Florida at Memorial Hospital Pembroke uses robotic equipment called the da Vinci® Surgical System. With the da Vinci system, doctors control a number of robot “arms” – including tiny cameras – to perform surgery. The robot arms bend in all directions, offering increased dexterity in confined body cavities.
Q. What are the benefits of using the da Vinci® Surgical System over more traditional methods of surgery?
A. Surgeons can control the da Vinci system with great accuracy and perform more procedures – including delicate ones.
Q. What are the advantages of minimally invasive robotic surgery?
A. Because patients have smaller incisions, they generally have less scarring, less chance of infection, less pain and blood loss, quicker recovery times, and fewer complications. Also, minimally invasive surgery is more cost-effective because it requires less medication and shorter hospital stays.
Q. If the robot “arms” are inserted through such small incisions in patients’ bodies, how can doctors see what they’re doing?
A. Surgeons sit at a nearby console and work from a three-dimensional, high-definition computer screen, through which they can view a real-time image of the organ that needs to be removed, repaired or worked on.
Q. Are surgeons looking at their patients in “virtual reality”?
A. No. It’s an actual, real-time image of the surgical field. Surgeons have complete control of everything they’re seeing and doing. It’s not virtual, it’s real.
Q. What procedures can be done using robotic equipment like this system?
A. Robotics is particularly well suited for delicate or complex operations. At Memorial Hospital Pembroke, robotics is used for urological and gynecological procedures, including cancer treatments. Robotics is also used for thoracic (chest) procedures.
Q. Am I a candidate for minimally invasive robotic surgery?
A. In general, most patients are candidates for robotic surgery. Your health status and scarring from previous procedures will be considered in a preoperative evaluation.
Q. How do I find a physician in the specialty I need?
To find a Memorial physician, call Memorial Physician Referral Service toll-free at (800) 944-DOCS. We're available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.