When you think of surgery, traditional open surgery where a surgeon operates with handheld instruments through a large cut (incision), is probably the first thing that comes to mind.
However, with the advanced technology available today, you could be a candidate for minimally invasive surgery which is a less invasive approach requiring just a few small cuts. Minimally invasive surgery includes laparoscopic surgery and robotic-assisted surgery.
A pioneer in robotic-assisted surgery and maker of da Vinci surgical systems was founded in 1995 and today, the company continues to create and refine robotic systems. And our surgeons at Wiregrass Surgical are trained and efficient at using these systems to provide the best possible outcomes for our patients!
In 2016, Flowers Hospital, where we operate, became the very first Community Health Systems hospital — out of 159 across the country — to support three da Vinci robots.
When it comes to robotic surgery, we are one of the top performing practices in the southeast.
But we don’t do this for us. We do this for our patients.
Robotic surgery offers significant advantages for our patients including decreased operating time, less time in the hospital, less blood loss, a significant reduction in post-surgery pain, and smaller incisions—which all translate to better outcomes for our patients.
Here are 4 reasons you could benefit from robotic surgery…
- It enhances your surgeon’s capabilities. The da Vinci vision system delivers 3D high-definition views, giving your surgeon a crystal clear view of the surgical area magnified 10 times to what the human eye can see. The surgeon uses tiny instruments that move like a human hand but with a far greater range of motion. The system’s built-in tremor-filtration technology helps your surgeon move each instrument with smooth precision as well.
- It aids in the identification of surrounding structures and blood vessels. With the robot surgeons can better assess blood supply to organs and identify other hard-to-see structures such as bile ducts.
- Patients experience smaller incisions. Smaller incisions, decreased days spent in the hospital, and a lower risk of infection are all things patients really appreciate post-operatively, and the robot can make this possible.
- Faster recoveries. We have collected clinical evidence that proves our patients recover faster from robotic surgery (when it is the best option for them). Here are a few statistics…
- Hernias: Robotic vs. Open: On average, our surgeons have reduced the length of hospital stay for a robotically repaired hernia by 7 days when compared with a traditional “open” surgery approach.
- Hernias: Robotic vs. Laparoscopic: Our surgeons have reduced hospital stays for robotically repaired hernias by 3 days when compared to laparoscopic hernia procedures.
- Colectomies: Robotic vs. Open: We’ve reduced the length of hospital stays by 9 days on average per patient compared to traditional approaches.
The da Vinci Robotic Surgery Procedures we perform include:
- Inguinal hernia repair
- Ventral hernia repair
- Umbilical hernia repair
- Nissen Fundoplication (Anti-Reflux/GERD)
- Hiatal hernia repair
- Colon Resection (Right/Left/Sigmoid Colectomy, LAR, APR)
- Gastrectomy (Sleeve)
- Cholecystectomy (Gall Bladder Removal)
- Splenectomy
Outcomes matter to us, but especially to our patients. We recognize that shorter hospital stays and fewer complications allow you to get back to the office, back to the gym, and back to life sooner.
For more information, or to see if robotic surgery is a fit for you, call our office today to schedule an appointment with one of our general surgeons.