Robotic Surgery at Columbia St. Mary's

Undergoing surgery not only affects a person’s body, it affects their entire life as well as the lives of those around them. Every patient wants a quick recovery and a quick return to normal activity. Robotic minimally invasive surgery can help patients achieve both of these things.

Columbia St. Mary’s surgeons are currently using robotic surgery for prostate, kidney, thoracic, and certain general and gynecologic surgeries. While many patients are candidates for robotic surgery, not all are. Talk to your doctor about whether or not you are candidate for robotic surgery.

For the patient, robotic surgery offers all the potential benefits of a minimally invasive procedure, including less pain, less blood loss and less need for blood transfusions. Moreover, robotic surgery can enable a shorter hospital stay, a quicker recovery and faster return to normal daily activities.

The da Vinci^® Surgical System

The da Vinci is a sophisticated robotic platform designed to enable complex surgery using a minimally invasive approach. The system’s main features include Intuitive motion, high-resolution 3D vision and innovative EndoWrist^® instrumentation. Intuitive^® motion refers to the System’s interface, which helps make da Vinci surgery look and feel like traditional “open” surgery. But this is where the similarities end.

In keeping with our passion for patient care, Columbia St. Mary’s is the first hospital in Milwaukee to utilize the da Vinci Surgical System with 3D high-definition. The 3D, high-definition viewing capabilities give surgeons an increased ability to clearly view the surgical field, differentiate between diseased and non-diseased tissue, and complete delicate procedures with a precision never before possible.

The da Vinci System’s high-resolution 3D viewer provides surgeons with an immersive experience. The pictures appear at high magnification, in brilliant color and with natural depth of field. To perform a procedure, the surgeon uses the console’s master controls to maneuver the patient-side cart’s four robotic arms. The instruments’ jointed-wrist design exceeds the natural range of motion of the human hand allowing surgeons to complete surgical procedures with unparalleled accuracy.

Is Robotic Surgery for You?

Despite its name, the da Vinci Surgical System is not an automatic robot, but rather a state-of-the-art tool that allows surgeons to complete delicate procedures with a precision never before possible.

Just as every tool is not appropriate for every job, the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System is not appropriate for every surgery. Some surgeries do not require the use of the da Vinci, and some patients have physical conditions that make them ineligible for robotic surgery. We encourage you to discuss your surgical options with your physician.

No matter what kind of surgery you have, be it traditional open surgery, traditional minimally invasive surgery, or robotic surgery, the surgeons, physicians, nurses and the entire staff of Columbia St. Mary’s will work to ensure you receive the best care possible.