Using the state-of-the-art daVinci Robotic Surgical System, Seton’s Cardiac Robotic Surgery Program is part of the comprehensive Robotic Surgery Center, placing Seton Medical Center on par with only a few other programs in the country.
“Today is World Heart Day, and we are proud of the achievements of our physicians who are using the latest technology to offer the best possible patient outcomes,” says Lorraine P. Auerbach, Seton’s Interim President and CEO. “We are excited Seton Medical Center is on the leading edge of these technological advancements for our patients.”
For most patients, robotic surgery can offer numerous potential benefits over traditional surgery, including:
- Shorter hospital stay
- Less pain and scarring
- Less risk of wound infections
- Less blood loss and fewer transfusions
- Faster recovery
- Quicker return to normal activities
“The da Vinci Surgical System allows Seton to offer certain patients the option of minimally invasive robotic surgery,” states Naoum Baladi, MD, a surgeon on Seton’s Cardiac Robotics Team and Chairman of the Department of Surgery. “These patients benefit from improved health, shorter hospital stays, faster recovery and better quality of life.”
With the da Vinci Surgical System, manufactured by Intuitive Surgical® of Sunnyvale, California, a surgeon can perform cardiac procedures in a whole new manner by operating through small incisions in the chest wall between the ribs. This method involves many of the same steps as open-chest heart surgery but typically eliminates large chest incisions, promoting much faster and less painful recovery.”
The da Vinci System is operated by a surgeon in the operating room sitting at a console, just a few feet away from the patient. Using a high-powered camera, the surgeon guides the robot’s four arms, which hold surgical tools that are inserted into the patient through small, keyhole-sized incisions. The da Vinci’s highly-accurate, flexible instruments allow the surgeon to make movements with control and precision that are even finer than a human hand can accomplish. The da Vinci’s video monitoring system provides a high definition three-dimensional view of the surgery with magnification ten times that of the naked eye.
In addition to cardiac surgery applications, Seton’ Robotic Surgery Center includes specialties in urology and gynecology and will soon add robotics for general surgery.
For more information, please visit our Robotic Surgery Center.