Minimally Invasive Gynecological Robotic Surgery
University Gynecologic Oncology (UGO) is committed to providing comprehensive gynecological cancer care for our patients through a multidisciplinary approach. Our state-of-the-art services provide the highest level in prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Our physicians are pioneers of patient care, technology and cancer treatment. We offer robotic surgery, a groundbreaking alternative to both traditional open surgery and conventional laparoscopy.
Our surgeons are committed to advancing the field of surgical techniques within gynecological surgery and are some of the most successful gynecological robotic surgeons in the world. UGO physicians perform the most complex and delicate procedures through
very small incisions with unmatched precision.
What Is Robotic Surgery?
Robotic surgery combines the benefits of laparoscopic surgery with the dexterity of traditional open surgery. This allows a surgeon to perform complex procedures laparoscopically, that would have previously required a large open incision through traditional
surgery. After the patient is asleep and positioned, laparoscopic ports are placed into the patient's abdomen and the specialized instruments are inserted. Unlike traditional laparoscopic instruments, which have limited freedom of movement, robotic
instruments are designed like a human wrist with the ability to bend, rotate, flex, etc. The surgeon controls the movements of these instruments from a console located next to the patient. By manipulating hand grips within the console, the computer
translates these movements into ones performed by the laparoscopic instruments. At no time does the computer "robot" perform any motion on its own - all actions are directly controlled by the surgeon.
Procedures and Conditions Treatable With Robotic Surgery
Robotic Surgery Patient Benefits
- Shorter hospital stay – with traditional open surgery, patients have to stay an average of 3-5 days in the hospital recovering. With robotic laparoscopic surgery, most of our patients can go home the next morning.
- Faster recovery – after open surgery, most patients require 4-6 weeks before they are back to their normal activities, back to work, etc. After robotic laparoscopic surgery, most can return to normal activities within 1-2 weeks.
- Less pain – instead of a large 12-14" incision, most patients only have 4 to 6 small (1/4") incisions. Additionally, because less bleeding and tissue manipulation are required on the inside of the abdomen, patients experience
less pain. Many patients do not require any narcotic use at all after surgery.
- Less blood loss and transfusion – as a result of excellent visualization and precise dissection, robotic surgery ends in less blood loss than traditional surgery.
- Better oncology outcomes – with the excellent visualization and precise dissection possible with robotic surgery, we are able to dissect lymph nodes out more thoroughly, with the preservation of nerves and blood vessels
that are not well visualized with open surgery.
- Less wound infection and wound complications – many cancer patients have other illnesses that predispose them to wound healing complications, such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension and peripheral vascular disease.
Some reports note a wound infection/complication rate for these patients as high as 20% after traditional surgery. The elimination of the large open incision allows most of these complications to be avoided.
- Better visualization – the robotic system allows physicians to perform the surgery using 3D imagery, magnified 10x, with excellent depth perception. This allows for safer and more precise tissue dissection.
- Better precision – robotic surgery eliminates any normal standard tremors that can occur when a surgeon uses long instruments. All extraneous movements are removed by the computer before being communicated to the instruments.
