Da Vinci^® Surgical System

The da Vinci System enables our surgeons to perform a range of delicate and complex surgical procedures to remove difficult-to-reach cancerous tumors with increased vision, precision, dexterity and control.

Robotic-Assisted Surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System

Seated comfortably at an ergonomically-designed console, the surgeon first makes a few tiny incisions to introduce  miniaturized instruments and a high-definition camera inside the patient. The camera allows the surgeon to view a highly magnified, high-resolution 3D image of the surgical site.

With eyes and hands in line with the instruments, the surgeon uses controls below the viewer to move the instrument arms and camera.

The system then translates, in real time, the surgeon’s hand, wrist and finger movements into precise movements of the instruments inside the patient.

Throughout the procedure, the surgeon controls every surgical maneuver. The System cannot be programmed or act in any way without the surgeon’s input.

Features of the da Vinci System

The da Vinci Surgical System is powered by state-of-the-art robotic and computer technology, including:

• An ergonomically-designed surgeon’s console
• A patient-side cart where the patient lays during surgery
• A high-resolution 3D vision system: Unlike conventional approaches, the patient’s anatomy appears at high magnification, in brilliant color, and with natural depth of field.
• Four interactive robotic arms: Operating through a few small incisions, the surgeon uses the console’s master controls to maneuver four robotic arms.
• EndoWrist^® instrumentation: The miniaturized wristed instruments have a jointed-wrist design that exceeds the natural range of motion of the human hand.
• Intuitive^® motion: Motion scaling and tremor reduction further interpret and refine the surgeon’s hand movements.
• Safety features: Multiple, redundant safety features, including an automatic shut-down feature, minimize risk associated with machine or human error.

Potential Advantages of the da Vinci System for Surgeons

In traditional minimally invasive surgery, the surgeon operates while standing, using hand-held instruments that cannot bend or rotate. The surgeon must look up and away to a nearby standard 2D video monitor to see an image of the target anatomy.

With the da Vinci System’s ergonomic design, the surgeon is able to operate from a comfortable, seated position at a console, with eyes and hands in line with the instruments, and a magnified, high-definition 3D view of the target anatomy.

Some potential advantages of the da Vinci system for surgeons include:

• Greater surgical precision
• Increased range of motion
• Improved dexterity
• Enhanced visualization
• Improved access

Potential Benefits of the da Vinci System for Patients

Until recently, patients’ options for surgery have included traditional surgery, which involves a large open incision, or laparoscopy, which uses small incisions but is generally limited to simple procedures.

The da Vinci system offers a minimally invasive alternative to both open surgery and laparoscopy. Because it requires only a few tiny incisions and offers greater vision, precision and control for the surgeon, patients can often recover sooner, move on to additional treatments if needed, and get back to daily life quicker. 

Other potential benefits of the da Vinci system for patients include:

• Reduced pain
• Lower risk of infection or complications
• Less blood loss (fewer transfusions)
• Shorter hospital stays
• Less scarring
• Faster return to normal activities (e.g., sexual function, urinary continence)

Cancer Types Treated with the da Vinci System

Patients with the following cancer types who meet appropriate criteria may be a candidate for robotic surgery:

• Adrenal Cancer
• Bladder Cancer
• Cervical Cancer
• Colon Cancer
• Esophageal Cancer
• Gallbladder Cancer
• Kidney Cancer
• Liver Cancer
• Lung Cancer
• Ovarian Cancer
• Pancreatic Cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• Rectal Cancer
• Stomach Cancer
• Uterine Cancer

While many patients may benefit from robotic surgery, it is not recommended for everyone. While it is most commonly used for urologic and gynecologic surgical procedures, patients with ovarian cancer may experience better results with open surgery if the cancer is advanced.

Other important factors your CTCA care team will consider when evaluating your eligibility for robotic surgery include:

• Previous radiation treatments (changes to tissue can limit robotic surgery)
• Previous surgeries (scar tissue can limit robotic surgery)
• Physical mobility (proper positioning of the patient is required for robotic surgery)

Where is the da Vinci System Being Offered?

This technology is available at CTCA at Midwestern Regional Medical Center (Midwestern) in Zion, Illinois and CTCA at Western Regional Medical Center in Goodyear, Arizona. 

“The addition of robotic surgery and the da Vinci Surgical System offers patients leading-edge, individualized options that are both minimally invasive and supportive of quality of life,” says Midwestern surgical oncologist Dr. Charles Komen Brown. “With this innovative technology, surgeons gain more vision, precision and control while making smaller, less invasive incisions.”

Midwestern and Western also offer fluorescence imaging with the da Vinci Surgical System. With this technology, our surgeons can capture real-time images of tissue and surrounding blood vessels to more precisely identify the border of a cancerous tumor, remove the tumor, and leave more healthy tissue intact.