Central Maine Healthcare is dedicated to providing advanced treatments locally. Our robotic-assisted surgical procedures — performed with the da Vinci Surgical System — allow patients to access leading-edge technology that not only minimizes the risk of post-surgical complications but also allows for faster recovery.
Why Do You Need da Vinci Robotic Surgery?
CMH surgeons use da Vinci to perform general and bariatric (weight loss) surgeries and treat a range of complex gastrointestinal conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer.
Contrary to its name, da Vinci robotic surgery is not performed by a robot. Instead, this complex surgical system allows your surgeon to use specialized, tiny instruments and a 3D view of the surgical area to perform a minimally invasive surgery through a smaller incision than would be required with traditional open surgery.
da Vinci robotic surgery benefits patients in a variety of ways. Many patients experience reduced pain, less blood loss, a shorter hospital stay and a faster overall recovery when they have procedures with da Vinci compared with traditional open surgery.
But only you and your provider can determine whether this type of procedure is right for you based on your individual medical history and the procedure that’s required.
Getting Ready for da Vinci Robotic Surgery
You prepare for da Vinci robotic surgery the same way you prepare for any standard surgical procedure. Your surgeon will provide you with in-depth pre-surgical instructions to help guide your care before your procedure.
These instructions will provide specifics about any required pre-surgical testing, guidance about eating and drinking prior to the procedure, and information about any medications you need to use or discontinue before surgery. It’s important to carefully follow these instructions to ensure your safety and well-being and to promote positive surgical outcomes.
What to Expect During da Vinci Robotic Surgery
While your experience will vary somewhat depending on the exact procedure you’re undergoing, every da Vinci robotic surgery includes some of the same basics.
During the surgical procedure, your surgeon will sit at a special console. From there, they are able to use a monitor to examine the 360-degree view of the surgical area and manipulate the controls required to perform the surgery.
When the procedure begins, your surgeon will make tiny incisions. A miniature 3D camera and similarly tiny surgical instruments are then placed in the body through those incisions.
Once this is done, your surgeon has complete control from the console. Using hand and foot controls, they move the surgical instruments. They move in real-time with your provider’s motions, which are guided by the high-definition view of the surgical area. This is of great benefit to patients, since the real-time motion of your surgeon’s hands give the surgeon even more dexterity and control over the procedure than they would have in a standard surgery.
Recovering From da Vinci Robotic Surgery
The length and intensity of your recovery after surgery will depend on the type of procedure that was performed. Patients undergoing da Vinci robotic surgery often require shorter hospital stays and can return to normal activities more quickly, but your individual circumstance may vary.