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The da Vinci Surgical System utilizes advanced, robotic, computer, and optical technologies to assist your surgeon with your operation. Its movements are controlled by your surgeon. The system has a 3-D high definition (3D-HD) vision system, special instruments, and computer software that allow your surgeon to operate with enhanced vision, precision, and dexterity. The 3D-HD image is highly magnified and extremely detailed, so your surgeon has a clear, close-up view of the area he or she is operating on. The da Vinci instruments have mechanical wrists that bend and rotate to mimic the movements of the human wrist, but have an even greater range of motion—allowing your surgeon to make small, precise movements inside your body in areas that are otherwise difficult to reach.
Please discuss with your doctor whether surgery using the da Vinci Surgical System is right for you.
Robotic Surgery: Areas of Expertise
Acute Care and General Surgery
Acute care and general surgeons often use robotic surgery to manage conditions such as inguinal, ventral, and hiatal hernias; GERD, diverticulitis; gallbladder disease; and bowel obstruction. They also use the robot to perform procedures such as colon and small intestine resection, colectomy (complete or partial colon removal), cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal), and colostomy reversal.
Acute and General Surgeons with Robotic Surgical Expertise
Acute and General Surgeons with Robotic Surgical Expertise
Thoracic Surgery
St. Luke's thoracic surgeons utilize the daVinci robot to treat lung cancer, esophageal cancer, mesothelioma, benign esophageal disease, gastroesophageal reflux, achalasia, mediastinal tumors, myasthenia gravis, thoracic outlet syndrome, hyperhidrosis, chest wall tumors, pleural space infections, and many other conditions.
Procedures offered with the robot include pulmonary lobectomy, pulmonary segmentectomy, esophagectomy, first rib resection, thymectomy, fundoplication, Heller myotomy, thoracic sympathectomy, decortication, chest wall resection, and more.
Thoracic Surgeons with Robotic Surgical Expertise
Specialty Gastrointestinal, Pancreatic and Colorectal Surgery
Robotic surgery is often used in bariatric surgery (for procedures like gastric bypass) or to address cancers of the pancreas, colon, rectum, and anus. It can also be used to address conditions such as diverticulitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, fistulas, inflammatory bowel disease, rectal prolapse, and more.
Specialty Surgeons with Robotic Surgical Expertise
- Joshua Barton, MD - pancreatic surgery
- Jason Kemp, MD - bariatric surgery
- Benjamin Karsten, MD - colorectal surgery
- Jennifer Lee, MD - colorectal surgery
Gynecologic Robotic Surgery
Our gynecologic surgeons use the robot for surgical management of conditions such as endometriosis, pelvic pain, pelvic fistula, and menorrhagia. They perform procedures such as hysterectomy (removal of the uterus), sacrocolpopexy, ovary removal, fibroid removal, and fistula repair. Several of our robotic surgeons have additional specialty and fellowship training in gynecologic oncology, a gynecology sub-specialty addressing gynecologic cancers.
General Gynecology Surgeons with Robotic Surgical Expertise
Specialty Gynecology Surgeons with Robotic Surgical Expertise
- Amy Cooper, MD - gynecologic oncology
- Gerardo Perez, MD - gynecologic oncology
- Taylor Turner, MD - gynecologic oncology
Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (Urogynecology)
Surgeons with additional fellowship training in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery treat patients needing specialty care for a variety of pelvic floor problems that affect bladder, bowel, uterine, vaginal and sexual function. They often use robotic surgery to manage conditions such as pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic fistula, performing procedures such as sacrocolpopexy, hysterectomy, and fistula repair.
Female Pelvic Medicine Surgeons with Robotic Surgical Expertise
Adult Urology
Robotic surgery is often used by urologic surgeons to perform a wide variety of procedures including but not limited to prostatectomy (removal of the prostate), nephrectomy (kidney removal), partial nephrectomy, adrenalectomy, and urinary tract reconstruction procedures. It can also be used to address conditions such as BPH (enlarged prostate), bladder cancer, prostate cancer, and kidney cancer.
One of our robotic surgeons has additional specialty and fellowship training in urologic oncology, a urology sub-specialty.
One of our robotic surgeons has additional specialty and fellowship training in urologic oncology, a urology sub-specialty.
General Urology Surgeons with Robotic Surgical Expertise
Specialty Urologic Surgeons with Robotic Surgical Expertise
- Stephen Brassell, MD - urologic oncology
Pediatric Urology
Robotic surgery is often used by pediatric urology surgeons to perform nephrectomy, partial nephrectomy, uretero-ureterostomy, pyeloplasty, and ureteral reimplantation procedures.
Pediatric Urology Surgeons with Robotic Surgical Expertise
Frequently Asked Questions
Click each question below for its answer:
How does robotic surgery work?
During a robotic surgery procedure, tiny instruments and a miniature high-definition camera are inserted into the patient's body near the affected area, sometimes using very small incisions, if necessary. The surgeon will then control the camera and instruments from a nearby console to complete the operation.
Will a robot operate on me?
The da Vinci robot is a system that allows your surgeon to control the surgical instruments. The robot does not make decisions or incisions on its own. Your surgeon tells the robot exactly what to do, and the robot enables improved vision, precision, and dexterity for the surgeon. The surgeon is in the operating room controlling the robot and the procedure during your entire surgery.