Gosh, just when I thought that robots that vacuum (like Roomba) were the ultimate in robotic technology….
Take a look at this: a 1,200-pound, million dollar robot that assists at laparoscopic hysterectomies.
Out of 600,000 hysterectomies performed each year in the U.S., just one out of 10 are laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomies (LAVH) — a much less invasive procedure than the TAH (total abdominal hysterectomy) performed on the majority of patients.
One of the key reasons why more women don’t receive the less invasive procedure is because of a long and difficult learning curve for surgeons.
The da Vinci(R) Surgical System hopes to remedy that difficulty. Robot-assisted surgery offers surgeons a way to perform finely controlled movements, while operating through a magnified 3-D view of the surgery site.
The robot’s camera and instruments are inserted in three or four inch-long slits in the abdomen (compared to a single 6-7-inch opening for a TAH). Doctors say that using the system is “like playing a video game.”
According to the system’s manufacturer, potential patient benefits include:
- Shorter hospital stay
- Less pain and scarring
- Less risk of wound infection
- Less blood loss and fewer transfusions
- Faster recovery
- Quicker return to normal activities
You can watch short videos on the system here, here and here.
So what do you think? Does robotic surgery make sense to you?
May 8th, 2007 at 10:32 am
Well, I hope it works, I’m scheduled for one next week! (May 15th)!!1
I’m a little nervous!
May 9th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
Hey again, Karen. See your other Comment for my reply about “Recovery.”
Cheers,
Sheila
May 12th, 2007 at 2:54 am
I had a DaVinci hysterectomy on April 5 (5 weeks ago). I felt so good, I went back to work after three weeks. I would recommend it to anyone who has this offered to them by their doctor.
May 20th, 2007 at 10:28 am
I had my robotic hysterectomy 1 week ago and would highly recommend it to anyone. I was out of the hospital the next morning. I would compare my recovery to the lap appy I had a year ago. I feel great!!!
May 23rd, 2007 at 3:30 pm
It was a week yesterday since my Da vinci surgery. I’m not saying that 7 days is the magic number, but WOW - I feel great! Amazingly so. I highly reoommend this procedure - just make sure your surgeon is trained :).
BTW Sheila, thanks for the link to Recovery!!
Karen
May 28th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
You’re most welcome, Karen. And what great news that you’re doing so well! Thanks for letting us all know your experiences with Da Vinci. I am quite jealous.
The system is very expensive, so it will be a while before it is widely available, but this is definitely a postive trend.
Cheers,
Sheila