Advancements in Robotic Surgery T
he advancement of robotic assisted surgery has changed the game for many surgeons and patients. Robotic surgery has been around since 2001. The surgeries performed are minimally invasive which means minimal trauma for the patient. Incisions are smaller, blood loss is less, and pain and recovery times are shorter. Boone Hospital Center added its first robot, the da Vinci in 2008. Now equipped with two 2 da Vinci XI robotic surgical systems, Boone Hospital has recently added the Mako robotic-arm assisted surgery for total joint replacement. “It's becoming more common place,” says Sara Rush, Director of Surgical Services. “Many fellowships are offering robotics training.” THE DA VINCI XI Inside, there’s a 3-dimensional camera that allows the doctor to see things in 3D. It’s not like a 3D movie where objects are coming at you. Instead, the 3D gives the surgeon depth perception. The camera in the robotic system is much stronger, allowing the surgeon to see the patient in a very magnified way. The robot also offers 360-degree movement of the instruments which give the surgeon full range of motion. They are able to mimic how they would naturally move their hands and fingers. This allows the surgeon to move in a much more natural way. During surgery, the patient lays on the patient bed. The da Vinci is a tall machine with robotic arms that extend. Its arms are what hold the instruments that are used in the patient. Once the instruments are in place, the surgeon sits at the surgeon console during the operation. The surgeon puts their fingers in the hand instruments, and this is how they control the movement of the instruments. The foot pedals are how they control the camera, they can cauterize the cut and adjust the instruments. HOW IS THE ROBOT USED FOR SURGERIES? Gynecologic Oncology Sara Crowder, MD is a gynecologic oncologist and has been performing robotic surgeries for 12 years. Dr. Crowder treats cancers of the female reproductive
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BOONE HEALTH
Winter 2024
The da Vinci arms extend and hold tiny instruments
