Morris Hospital offers robotic-assisted surgery with the da Vinci 5® (DV5) surgical system. As the most advanced da Vinci system available today, the DV5 is associated with improved patient outcomes including shorter hospital stays, faster recoveries, and reduced risk of complications.
The da Vinci system is currently being used at Morris Hospital, in the following procedures, depending on the recommendation of the surgeon:
- Colorectal – colorectal surgery
- General surgery – gallbladder surgery, hernia repair (hiatal, ventral, inguinal)
In the near future, da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery will expand to the gynecology specialty at Morris Hospital.
When using the da Vinci 5 surgical system, the surgeon:
- stays with the patient in the operating room and uses his or her hands to control a camera and surgical instruments to perform the procedure.
- views the entire operation in 3DHD, giving the surgeon a crystal clear view of the surgical area that is magnified 10 times to what the human eye sees.
- uses tiny instruments that move like a human hand but with an even greater range of motion. The system’s built-in tremor-filtration technology helps the surgeon move each instrument with smooth precision.
Robotic-assisted surgery is also available at Morris Hospital in the orthopedic specialty using the Mako™ system.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between open surgery, laparoscopic surgery, and da Vinci® robotic-assisted surgery?
Surgeons perform open surgery using handheld instruments to operate through a large incision that allows them to see the entire surgery area. During conventional laparoscopic surgery performed through small incisions, physicians use long handheld instruments while viewing magnified images of the surgery field that are displayed on a video screen by a tiny camera called a laparoscope.
Surgeons can perform minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery using the specialized instruments and advanced technology of da Vinci surgical systems. With da Vinci, multiple features help extend the surgeon’s eyes and hands beyond what the human body allows. For example, the tiny wristed instruments of the da Vinci system move like a human hand but with an even greater range of motion. The instrument size makes it possible for a surgeon to operate through incisions that range in size from 8 to 13 millimeters, which is about the size of your fingertip.
Does the robot perform the surgery?
No. The surgeon performs surgery. The da Vinci system translates every hand movement the surgeon makes in real time to bend and rotate the instruments with precision.
What can I expect on surgery day if I am having da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery?
When it’s time for surgery, you will be brought into the operating room (OR) to join your surgeon and care team. The da Vinci surgical system will be in the OR before your surgery begins. You will receive medicine to help ensure that you do not feel pain. During the procedure, your surgeon will remain in the OR and control the system while viewing the surgical field with the da Vinci system’s camera. Your surgeon will be able to see the surgical field in 3DHD and magnify it to 10 times its normal size to see details more clearly than with the naked eye. Your surgeon will use long, thin instruments that move like a human hand but with a greater range of motion. When surgery is complete, your surgeon will close the small incisions with a few tiny stitches, and the care team will move you from the OR to a recovery room where you will stay until you wake up.
To learn more about what to expect, follow this link to Intuitive’s YouTube channel to view the video: Robotic-Assisted Surgery, What to Expect
How can I find a surgeon who is trained in da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery?
To find a general surgeon who performs da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery at Morris Hospital, follow this link to our physician directory and review the profiles of the general surgeons.