Robotic Assisted Surgery

The most advanced robotic-assisted surgical technology is at CHI Health. Several CHI Health hospitals in Nebraska and Iowa (CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center - Bergan Mercy, CHI Health Good Samaritan, CHI Health Immanuel, CHI Health Lakeside, CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs, CHI Health St. Elizabeth and CHI Health St. Francis) offer robotic-assisted surgery for patients undergoing a wide variety of surgical procedures in many specialty areas, including:

  • Colorectal (diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease)
  • Cardiovascular and Thoracic
  • Esophageal
  • Gynecology
  • Oncology
  • Urology

How Robotic-assisted Surgery Works

Robotic-assisted surgery is breakthrough technology. It is an effective, minimally invasive alternative to both open surgery and laparoscopy performed through small incisions using fully articulating micro-instruments.

CHI Health uses the latest-generation robotic-assisted surgical system. It consists of three main components: a patient side cart with four interactive robotic arms, an endoscopic camera and video system that transmits high-definition, three-dimensional images from inside the body, and a surgeon’s control console.

Sitting at the console a few feet from the operating table, the surgeon looks into viewfinder of the fiber optic imaging system and sees a three-dimensional high definition view of the surgical site that is magnified 10 times that of the naked eye, enabling a superior view of the anatomy. By comparison, most laparoscopic surgeries provide doctors with 4X magnification. The surgeon is easily able to reposition, zoom and rotate the camera to adjust to the field of vision, from the console. The natural depth-of-field enables the surgeon to perform delicate tissue dissection and suture with superior dexterity, even in a very confined space.

Surgical technique is enhanced

Each movement of the surgeon's hands is translated into smooth, precise movements of the micro-instruments with extraordinary control, ambidextrous capability and full 360-degree range of motion. It is important to note that robotic-assisted surgery does not place a robot at the controls, your surgeon is controlling every aspect of the surgery with its assistance. It cannot be programmed, nor can it make decisions on its own. The system requires that every surgical maneuver be performed with direct input from your surgeon. It is essentially an extension of your surgeon's hands.

Small incisions

The small, precise instruments allow for delicate incisions and stitching not possible through other minimally-invasive techniques. The number of incisions used varies by procedure, but the significance lies in their size — an average of only one to two centimeters — or roughly the size of a dime. The system gives surgeons have the ability to perform many complex procedures — including prostate, heart and gynecological surgery. The size, precision and flexibility of instruments make the surgical system ideal for prostatectomy, because the prostate is closely surrounded by nerves responsible for preservation of sexual function and urinary continence.

Benefits

  • Shorter hospital stay
  • Less pain after the surgery
  • Lower risk of infection
  • Less blood loss and fewer transfusions
  • Less scarring & improved cosmetic healing
  • Faster recovery and return to normal daily activities
  • And in many cases, better clinical outcomes.