Drs. Johnson, Bloomberg, and Eckhert are certified to use the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System when performing certain surgeries, such as laparoscopic cholecystectomies, hernia repairs, bowel resections, splenectomies, and others. These surgeries can be done with single or multiple laparoscopic instrument ports depending on the situation and particular needs of the patient. Robotic-assisted surgery can have many advantages for patients, including:
- Minimal scarring and smaller incisions
- Less pain and blood loss
- Fewer complications
- Faster recovery
- Reduced hospital stays
- High patient satisfaction
- Quicker return to normal activities
Robotic Surgery’s Benefits
The clinical literature for robotic-assisted surgery is extensive. In a national review of thousands of patient outcomes, robotic surgery was shown to be as safe as or safer than traditional surgical approaches. It also affords patients a nearly scarless option when it comes to surgery.
For example, the da Vinci robot allows our surgeons to perform a single-site cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder). Instead of the traditional four small incisions in laparoscopic surgery, which leave tiny scars, the surgeon instead makes a small incision in the belly button and inserts the robotic instruments through that opening. The incision is less than one inch long, so when it heals, hardly any scarring is visible. The robot also enhances the view of the surgical field with its 3D high definition magnified vision system.
You can get a sense of the robot’s precision and magnification from this video of a da Vinci robot suturing a grape. If you really want to see it in action, here is video of a robotic hernia repair done by Dr. Bloomberg
We’re proud to be among the first surgeons in Buffalo, NY, to use robotic surgery technology and to partner with Mercy Hospital in bringing it to our patients. Please ask us more about it when you come in for your appointment.