In traditional laparoscopic surgery, manual rigid instruments are used to perform the procedure. With the da Vinci® Surgical System, a 3D immersive view of the targeted area on the patient’s body and minimal incisions are used.

When conducting robotic surgery, Orlando Health surgeons are able to perform general surgery with minimally invasive techniques. Coupled with the surgeon’s expertise, the da Vinci® Surgical System mimics the surgeon’s hands movements while simultaneously helping reduce tremors and enabling big movements to be scaled down. Benefits of opting for robotic surgery include increased precision, smaller incisions, less blood loss, fewer complications, shorter hospital stays and faster recoveries*.

Robotic General Surgery Procedures

• Hernia Repair (Ventral, Incision, Umbilical, Inguinal, Hiatel, Diaphramatic)
• Adrenalectomy
• Appendectomy
• Cholecystectomy
• Distal Pancreatectomy
• Gastrectomy
• Heller Myotomy
• Colon and Rectal Resection (Left, Right, Sigmoid, Total, Rectum)
• Rectal Prolapse (Rectopexy)
• Lysis of Adhesions
• Nissan Fundooplication
• Pacreatectomy (Whipple Procedure)
• Small Bowel Resection
• Splenectomy

Robotic Hernia Repair

Some symptoms of a hernia are barely noticeable. Others are very specific. The primary symptom is often pain that can be mild or severe. 

Inguinal Hernia Symptoms

An inguinal hernia can cause lower abdominal or groin pain, especially when coughing, bending over or lifting a heavy object. It can be mild or quite severe. Other symptoms may include: 

• A bulge on either side of your pubic bone, which may become more visible when standing, coughing or straining
• A burning or aching sensation at the hernia site
• A feeling of heaviness or weakness in your groin

Ventral/incisional Hernia Symptoms

A ventral/incisional hernia can cause you to feel mild discomfort in your abdominal area. Other symptoms may include:

• Severe pain in your abdomen
• Outward bulging of skin or tissues in your abdominal areaNausea

All of these symptoms may affect your ability to work or engage in your usual activities. 

During robotic-assisted surgery with the da Vinci surgical system, your surgeon makes several small incisions, then uses a 3DHD camera for a crystal-clear, magnified view of your hernia. He or she sits at a console next to you and operates through the incisions using tiny instruments and the camera. Every hand movement your surgeon makes is translated by the da Vinci surgical system in real-time, bending and rotating the instruments so he or she can repair your hernia.

Robotic Omentectomy

An omentectomy is a surgical procedure designed to remove the omentum, which is a thin fold of abdominal tissue that encases the stomach, large intestine and other abdominal organs. 

An omentectomy may be recommended for an ovarian cancer patient if cancerous cells have invaded the omentum. The procedure may also be performed as a preventive measure to reduce the risk of cancer spreading from the ovaries to the stomach and other abdominal organs.

Robotic Bowel Resection

Bowel resection, also called partial colectomy, removes a diseased or damaged part of the colon or rectum. Bowel resection can be done for many diseases that affect the colon, such as colorectal cancer, diverticulitis or Crohn's disease.

Robot-assisted laparoscopy for bowel resection usually involves three to six very small incisions instead of one large one. Recovery from the robotic procedure generally takes 2–3 weeks compared to 4–6 weeks for conventional open surgery.

Robotic Appendectomy

An appendectomy is the surgical removal of the appendix, most often performed as an emergency operation. An appendectomy may be performed to relieve pelvic pain or an ovarian malignancy. A robotic appendectomy involves several small incisions versus one long incision in an open appendectomy. Recovery from the robotic procedure generally takes 3–5 days compared to 2–3 weeks for conventional open surgery.

Robotic Splenectomy

A splenectomy is a surgical procedure that removes the spleen. Patients who are candidates for robotic surgery normally have a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery than in an open surgery. The 3D, high-resolution view that the da Vinci robotic system provides surgeons enables a more precise dissection of the splenic vessels even in difficult situations.

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 To view a listing of physicians performing robotic general surgery, click here.