- Open surgery: Physicians operate through a large incision that allows them to view the surgical site directly. This may be the first method that comes to mind for many people when they think of surgery.
- Laparoscopic surgery: Surgeons use long handheld instruments and a tiny camera that reach the surgical site through small incisions. The images are projected onto a screen in a 2D view.
- Robotic-assisted surgery: Robotic arms and a camera are inserted into small incisions and guided to the surgical site. Your surgeon works at a nearby console, using high-resolution 3-D images of the site and advanced robotic technology to convert their hand movements into precise micro-movements of the instruments.
The term “robotic-assisted” does not mean that robots perform surgery. The da Vinci system cannot be programmed, nor can it make decisions on its own. Instead, every surgical maneuver is performed with direct input from your surgeon. The da Vinci system is an advanced tool that translates your surgeon’s hand movements at the console into precise movement of the advanced instruments at the surgical site.
Da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery helps the surgeon’s eyes and hands perform with precision that is beyond what the human body allows. The tiny wristed instruments of the da Vinci system move like a human hand but with an even greater range of motion, and the instrument size makes it possible for a surgeon to operate through incisions about the size of your fingertip.
Every surgeon’s experience is different, so it is important to talk to yours about the outcomes he or she typically delivers when using the da Vinci surgical system for your particular procedure. In general, patients who have undergone da Vinci procedures experience less pain, lower risk for complications after surgery, shorter hospital stays, and faster recoveries.