Robotics

Robotic Surgery has been adopted by surgeons and hospitals in Australia and around the world for use in the treatment of a wide range of conditions.

The da Vinci robotic surgical system includes mechanical arms, with wristed surgical instruments and a camera attached to them. The surgeon controls the robot arms at all times while seated at an ergonomic computer console near the operating table.

The console gives the surgeon a high definition, 10x magnified, stable, 3D view of the surgical site.
The console hand controls can automatically adjust for any surgeon hand tremors, and gives the surgeon direct control of 3 instruments, with equivalent wrist flexibility as the human hand.

Surgeons who use the robotic system find that for many procedures it enhances precision, flexibility, and control during the operation. Robotic surgery affords surgeons better and more magnified views of the operative site when compared with traditional techniques.

Using robotic surgery, surgeons can perform delicate and complex procedures that may have been difficult or impossible with other methods. Robotic surgery makes successful minimally invasive surgery possible for more patients.

The benefits of minimally invasive surgery potentially include:

• Fewer complications, such as surgical site infection
• Less pain and blood loss
• Faster recovery
• Smaller, less noticeable scars

Within general and gastrointestinal surgery, may benefit appropriately selected patients with:

• Complex abdominal wall hernias (ventral/recurrent)
• Left sided pancreatic resections to preserve spleen
• Major and minor liver resection
• Oesophago-gastric resection
• Role in revisional bariatric surgery