da Vinci robotic surgery is a less invasive approach to surgical procedures, with smaller incisions and smaller instruments typically resulting in substantially less post-operative pain and quicker recovery time. Dr. Shashoua will assess if you are a candidate for da Vinci surgery at the time of your visit. With this technique, five small incisions are made approximately 1cm in length each. This allows for a camera and four small instruments to enter the abdomen. Gas flows into the abdomen throughout the procedure keeping the abdomen slightly expanded, providing visibility of the surgical site. The surgeon controls the instruments at all times from a separate console, where he sees a high-definition 3D image.
There is also an assistant at your bedside throughout the procedure watching the procedure on a separate monitor and aiding Dr. Shashoua as needed.
Because the da Vinci platform is a robotic platform, a common misconception is that the robot does the surgery. The opposite is true. The main difference between the robotic platform when compared to the laparoscopic platform is that the robotic platform allows the surgeon to fully control the camera and the 3 robotic arms. The surgeon is operating 4 handed. In addition, the robotic platform allows for visualization in 3D.
