Robotic Surgery

Patients may experience shorter recovery times, a quicker return to work and normal activities and less scarring when they have minimally invasive, robotic surgery at South Texas Health System Edinburg. Compared to traditional open surgery, robotic surgery using the da Vinci® Xi Surgical System may also provide patients with these benefits:

• Decreased risk of infection
• Reduced pain and trauma to their bodies
• Reduced loss of blood during a procedure

Bob Saggi, MD, describes the benefits of robotic surgery.

Surgeons at South Texas Health System Edinburg use robotic surgery for a variety of gynecologic, urologic and general surgery procedures. South Texas Health System Edinburg is the first medical facility south of San Antonio to use the da Vinci Xi system, which provides surgeons with enhanced vision, greater access to their patients' internal organs and higher precision than with previous systems.

Instead of relying on handheld instruments and a separate video monitor, robotic systems allow surgeons to control four steady robotic arms through a video guidance system. When using a robotic system, surgeons sit at a console in the operating suite with a video monitor that displays the surgical area. After the surgical arms are placed in the correct position, surgeons control them from the console to complete the procedure. The da Vinci Xi system uses smaller, lighter arms that have an extended range of motion compared to previous systems, and bending and rotation capabilities that far exceed the human hand.

The system uses laser-guided targeting to pinpoint the surgical area, and then configures itself into the optimum position for the procedure. A magnified 3D HD vision system provides surgeons with clear vision and true depth perception.

Single-Site Robotic Gallbladder Surgery

Ernesto Garza, MD

Bob Saggi, MD

 

Treatment for gallbladder disease generally includes lifestyle and dietary changes and medication. However, in some cases, doctors recommend cholecystectomy, which is surgery to remove the gallbladder.

Doctors at South Texas Health System Edinburg use the da Vinci Xi Surgical System to perform the procedure through a single incision in the navel. Because there is only a single, small incision, patients often experience less trauma to the body and less blood loss during the procedure surgery. This means they may recover more quickly and return to work and daily activities faster than they would with conventional surgery.

Candidates for Robotic Surgery

If you need surgery and would like to know if robotic surgery is an option for you, talk to you primary care physician. He or she will be able to refer you to a physician who is trained to perform robotic surgery.

Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any surgical procedure. Talk with your doctor about these risks to find out if robotic surgery is right for you.